Manama/Tel Aviv, Nov. 18, (dpa/GNA) – Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif al-Zayani will arrive in Israel on Wednesday for the first high-level visit since the two countries signed a deal to normalize relations two months ago.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was also expected to arrive in Israel and both diplomats were set to participate in a trilateral meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi in Jerusalem.
Al-Zayani leads a high-level delegation, which will conduct discussions to follow up on the Abraham Accords – the September deal that normalized relations between Israel and Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates – the official Bahrain News Agency reported.
“The visit comes to affirm Bahrain’s firm and permanent position towards supporting the peace process in the Middle East region, and to shed light on economic opportunities and bilateral agreements with Israel,” it added.
Pompeo was due to arrive in Israel following a visit to Europe. Israel was the first destination on a subsequent tour of several Middle East countries, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
According to a briefing by senior US State Department officials on Friday, Pompeo and Netanyahu will “discuss a variety of issues, including the implementation of the Abraham Accords.”
“UAE and Bahrain have committed to opening embassies and exchanging ambassadors and to begin a cooperation on a broad range of fields, including education, health care, trade, and security,” one of the officials noted.
In October, a high-level delegation by Israeli and US officials visited Manama, where Bahrain and Israel signed a communique formally establishing diplomatic ties.
GNA