President Isaac Herzog departed for Bahrain early Sunday morning for the first official visit to the Gulf country by an Israeli head of state.
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The historic trip comes more than two years after Israel and Bahrain normalized relations as part of the US-brokered Abraham Accords. Accompanied by his wife, First Lady Michal Herzog, the president will also visit the United Arab Emirates during the diplomatic swing. The UAE along with Bahrain participated in the White House signing ceremony September of 2020 for the accords.
"This is another historic step in the relationship between Israel and Arab states, signed with the Abraham Accords, and another step toward more and more nations joining the circle of peace with the State of Israel," Herzog said on the tarmac of Ben-Gurion International Airport prior to his departure.
"I will be the guest of the King of Bahrain and his government, and I hope to discuss issues of mutual interest. I am bringing with me a delegation of people from the industry and economy. The economy of Bahrain is growing rapidly, it's very impressive, and it's a strong economic nation in the region," he continued.
While in the capital Manama, Herzog is scheduled to meet with the king and government officials as well as leaders of the local Jewish community. He will also visit the Bahrain Economic Development Board with the Israeli business representatives who joined Herzog on the Arkia Israeli Airlines flight.
On Monday, the president will depart Bahrain for the UAE where he will attend the Abu Dhabi Space Debate and meet with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan – the fourth meeting between the two leaders.
In his statement, Herzog acknowledged that his visit is not entirely welcomed in the majority Shiite Muslim country with an estimated population of 1.8 million run by a Sunni Muslim royal family. The trip comes "amid protests and other dissenting voices," the president admitted. It was reported last week that Israel's Shin Bet (domestic security agency) increased Herzog's security posture for his trip to the Gulf, following a social media campaign by locals opposed to his visit.
However, Herzog emphasized that his visit is "predominately a visit of peace." He penned a column in the Bahraini newspaper Al Ayam published in print and online Sunday discussing this point that he said was another important step in Israel's inclusion in the region for more stability and prosperity.
Herzog's personal security was increased following online threats ahead of the visit. In one of the threats, Herzog was portrayed as a kind of devil, with reddened eyes and lips and flames behind him. Stamped beneath his distorted image was the word: "Criminal."
Another online ad read in Arabic: "All normalization is an act of treason, don't come" – normalization referring to the growing ties between Israel and Gulf State signatories to the Abraham Accords, the peace treaty struck in Sept. 2020.
In January, during Herzog's last visit to Abu Dhabi, the Houthi rebels in Yemen fired a missile at the country. It was intercepted.
"There was not, and is not, any danger posed to the president and his entourage," the president's office stated at the time.
i24NEWS and JNS.org contributed to this report.
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