Ahead of an extraordinary official visit by an Israeli delegation to Bahrain later this month, an official from the Kingdom said the Gulf state will be the first to establish diplomatic relations with the Zionist entity.
The rapprochement between the Gulf country and the Zionist regime “will not contradict the principles of Bahrain,” i24NEWS quoted a Bahraini official as saying.
“Bahrain does not view Israel as an enemy,” the official, who asked not to be named, told i24NEWS on Tuesday.
An official Israeli delegation is set to travel to Bahrain to attend a meeting of the World Heritage Committee organized by UNESCO on June 24, Israeli foreign ministry confirmed. Sources in Tel Aviv told i24NEWS the delegation will consist of two high ranking Israeli officials.
The visit is apparently the first time an official Israeli delegation will travel to the Gulf nation, with which the Israeli occupation has no diplomatic ties.
The Bahraini official told i24NEWS that while the Kingdom is “indeed obligated” to allow the Israeli delegation to attend, he believes that it is important to do so and to “allow everyone to express their views.”
“Bahrain’s interest is the most important thing for Bahrain,” the official further added.
While the Zionist entity and Bahrain do not have official diplomatic ties, in recent months there have been signs of ‘warming’ relations between the two sides.
Last month, Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa said in unprecedented remarks that the Zionist regime had the “right to defend itself” against Iran after dozens of rockets were fired at the occupied Golan from Syrian territory. The rockets were blamed at Iran in reported retaliation for repeated Israeli strikes against Iranian forces in Syria.
The Bahraini FM at time further said that the newly relocated American embassy in Al-Quds (Jerusalem) is not located in the future Palestinian capital.
Commenting on the report published by i24NEWS on Tuesday, Israeli Regional Cooperation Minister Tzachi Hanegbi told The Jerusalem Post Wednesday he was “not aware” or any concrete moves in that direction.
“I am not aware of it,” Hanegbi said in response.
“I would be very happy if it happens, but it is unlikely to happen very soon.”
At the same time, Hanegbi said that the Bahrainis “do express themselves in a very positive way,” referring specifically to remarks by the Bahraini FM last month.
Source: Agencies
