Israeli FM Lapid heads to Bahrain for first official visit
ABC News
Israel's foreign minister has landed Bahrain for the first high-level visit to the small Gulf state by a senior official since the signing of a landmark agreement to establish diplomatic ties between the two countries last year
JERUSALEM -- Israel's foreign minister arrived in Bahrain on Thursday, the first high-level visit to the small Gulf state by a senior Israeli official since the signing last year of a landmark agreement to establish diplomatic ties.
Yair Lapid landed in Bahrain's capital, Manama, for meetings with his Bahraini counterpart and to inaugurate Israel's embassy. It was the first official visit by an Israeli Cabinet member.
After Lapid landed, Bahrain carrier Gulf Air launched its first direct flight between Manama and Tel Aviv.
The Israeli diplomatic delegation was to meet with its Bahraini counterparts and sign a raft of agreements to further cement bilateral ties, including economic deals and cooperation between hospitals and water companies. The two countries had long enjoyed clandestine security ties over a shared distrust of regional rival Iran, but only last year took the relationship public.
