On the first Gulf Air flight … a delegation from the Bahraini government arrives in occupied Palestine

The first official delegation from the Bahraini government arrived in “Israel” this morning, Wednesday, on Gulf Air’s first commercial flight to Tel Aviv, while the delegation hopes to expand the scope of cooperation after signing the agreement with “Israel” in Washington and establish official relations with him on September 15. Last September, in the presence of President Donald Trump and sponsored by the United States.

Gulf Air flight number “GF 972” took off from Manama airport this morning and landed at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv about two hours later, according to a US official, and the flight tracking website “Flight Radar 24” .

The delegation was led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain, Abdul Latif bin Rashid Al Zayani, accompanied by a delegation of 25 people, including representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain and employees of the White House, in conjunction with the arrival of the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Tel Aviv as part of his Middle East tour.

According to Israeli media, Bahrain’s official delegation also includes the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Zayed Al-Zayani, although the visit comes despite the national mourning in Bahrain over the death of Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa.

Following the reception ceremony of the Bahraini delegation led by Israel’s Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, a Bahraini-Israeli-American tripartite meeting will be held in occupied Jerusalem, at the level of Foreign Ministers of the three countries, with the participation of the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, where the exchange of diplomatic missions and the opening of two embassies will be discussed. In Tel Aviv and Manama, a joint press conference will be held at the end of the meeting.

The Israeli media had said yesterday that a tripartite summit will be held on Wednesday between the first Bahraini official to visit “Israel”, the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, and the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Israeli side and the Bahraini delegation will sign many memorandums of understanding and agreements in various fields, including trade and economic cooperation, air navigation and airline operation between the two countries.

For its part, the official Bahrain news agency said: “The visit comes to confirm Bahrain’s firm and permanent position towards supporting the peace process in the Middle East region, highlighting the economic opportunities and bilateral agreements with the State of Israel, and efforts to achieve common interests in various fields. “

The agency added in a statement that “the visit aims to hold more joint discussions between the two countries in light of what was agreed in the declaration of support for peace and the declaration of Ibrahim’s principles.”

Last Sunday, the Israeli Cabinet approved the joint declaration on the establishment of diplomatic, peaceful and friendly relations between “Israel” and the Kingdom of Bahrain, which will enter into force in accordance with Israeli law, after its approval by the Knesset on 10 of November.

Bahrain recently joined the ranks of Arab normalization with the post-UAE occupation, justifying this by saying that “normalization will strengthen the Kingdom’s strategic partnership with the United States,” after the announcement of Israeli-Emirati normalization on August 13.

Israeli media said the Crown Prince of the Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, will visit Israel soon, in response to the invitation of Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, after the UAE signed a “captivity and normalization” agreement with “Israel. “on August 13.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to travel to the United Arab Emirates next month, in the first public visit by an Israeli prime minister.