Bahraini delegation arrives ‘Israel’ to expand ties

The second ministerial delegation from Bahrain in two weeks arrived in Israel Tuesday morning with about 40 other business and state officials from the Gulf states, with hopes of expanding the economic ties.

Israel’s Economy Minister Amir Peretz and Tourism Minister Orit Farkash-Hacohen welcomed Bahraini Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani in Israel.

“The important thing is that we are greeting them as our equals,” Peretz said. “They can contribute a great deal to us.”

During his three-day stay, Alzayani is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and four Israeli cabinet members.

“The visit is very significant from our perspective,” said Eliav Benjamin, the head of the Arab world desk at Israel’s Foreign Ministry.

“It is an illustration of what we and what the Bahrainis want to see in our relations, progress in our cooperation. This is true normalization between our two countries: trade, commerce, meetings between delegations and ministers and businesspeople.”

Alzayani’s visit comes just two weeks after Bahrain’s foreign minister, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, became the first minister from the Gulf states to visit ‘Israel’.

On Wednesday, Alzayani is scheduled to meet with Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi and to attend an exhibition about Israeli technology and innovation which the Foreign Ministry is organizing in his honor in Jerusalem.

He is also expected to sign a tourism agreement and possible additional agreements.

Israeli FM Gabi Ashkenazi is set to be the first Israeli minister to make an official visit to Bahrain this month.

Netanyahu also said he will make an official visit to Bahrain soon.

On Thursday, the Bahraini minister is planning to tour the Diamond Exchange in Ramat Gan and participate in a gathering of Israeli and Bahraini businesspeople before heading back to Manama.

Bahrain is the second Arab country to normalize ties with Israel, following the United Arab Emirates.