Bahrain formally appoints its first ambassador to Israel
Bahrain announced on Tuesday that it had officially appointed the kingdom’s first ambassador to Israel.
Bahraini state media said that Khaled Yousef al-Jalahmah would serve as Bahrain's envoy to the State of Israel, and was congratulated on the position by the country's monarch.
Jalahmah previously served as the deputy ambassador to the United States and had also held several other senior positions in the Bahraini diplomatic service.
The announcement came after Bahrain agreed to normalise ties with Israel in September last year, alongside a number of other countries in the region, including Morocco, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch
Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters
Although Israel already has an embassy in the Bahraini capital Manama, the kingdom is yet to establish an embassy in Israel.
The appointment of Jalahmah was signed off on 30 March by then Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, who called it "another important step" in implementing September’s Abraham Accords which normalised ties between Israel and Bahrain.
Bahraini media expressed Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa's congratulations on the appointment.
"His Majesty, may God preserve him, congratulated Ambassador Khaled Yousef al-Jalahmah, and His Majesty expressed his lofty directives to the ambassador, wishing him success in promoting Bahrain’s noble message of peace and the values of tolerance and peaceful coexistence," the statement read.
Israeli embassy in the UAE
The announcement came on the same day that Israel's foreign minister, Yair Lapid, opened Israel's embassy in the UAE after his first official visit to Abu Dhabi.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Lapid said: "This is a historic moment and a reminder that history is written by human beings.
"It is written by people who know history, but who are willing to change it. It is written by people who prefer the future over the past.
"Agreements are signed by leaders, but peace is made between peoples. What we sign today is not the end of the process, but rather, is just the beginning."
During the two-day visit, Lapid will also inaugurate Israel's consulate in Dubai, as well as sign an agreement on economic cooperation, Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Lior Haiat said.
Palestinians have denounced the normalisation deals, describing them as a "stab in the back".
They say that the deals, known as the Abraham Accords, violate a longstanding pan-Arab position that Israel could normalise relations only in return for land.
Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.
