This is the highest level of the relationship since the two countries settled their diplomatic ties in 2020 through the United States.
According to the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, Bennett will receive on the visit his partner in Bahrain, Salman bin Hamad bin Isa, the ally. “The leaders will discuss ways to strengthen bilateral relations (…), especially in diplomacy and the economy, with a focus on technology and innovation issues,” the statement said.
In 2020, Israel normalized its diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain through US mediation, in part due to the fact that these countries share concerns about Iran.
Speaking to reporters before leaving for Bahrain, Bennett said he hoped his visit would be “a message of goodwill (…) and a united stance against common threats.”
Israel intensified its cooperation with the Gulf states following agreements two years ago. Defense Minister Benny Ganz, for example, held talks in Manama on February 2, in which he announced the appointment of an Israeli officer to Bahrain as part of an international coalition. The emirate has the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet and, in some cases, the so-called Central Command (Centcom), which manages US operations in the Middle East and Central Asia.
Cover photo source: Israeli Government Press Office/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
