Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett speaks at a press conference in Jerusalem on Dec. 19, 2021. (Marc Israel Sellem/JINI via Xinhua)
JERUSALEM, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met on Tuesday Bahraini Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa after arriving for a first visit by an Israeli leader to the Gulf Arab country, the prime minister's office said.
"Prime Minister Bennett was received by an honor guard at the palace of Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain Al Khalifa," Bennett's office said in a statement.
Also on Tuesday, Bennett met with Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister Zayed Rashid Al-Zayani and Transportation, Infrastructures and Agriculture Minister Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed.
"The prime minister and the ministers discussed strengthening cooperation as well as various ideas in the fields of innovation, economy and technology," Bennett's office said in a separate statement, adding they also discussed cooperation in transporting goods between Asia and Europe.
Photo shows Israeli National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat (L), Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani (C) and Israeli Foreign Ministry Director-General Alon Ushpiz (R) at the signing ceremony of a series of agreements between Israel and Bahrain, in Manama, capital of Bahrain, on Oct. 18, 2020. (Photo from Bahrain News Agency)
Bennett also met representatives of the Bahraini Jewish community. "I'm very delighted to be here in Bahrain, and I could think of no better way to kick off this visit than seeing my family here," he said.
In an interview published on Tuesday by a local newspaper in Bahrain, Bennett said his visit aimed at cementing ties between his country and Bahrain. "I see Israel and Bahrain as close partners in all areas," he told the Al-Ayyam daily in the interview, which was published in Arabic.
"The cooperation between us is natural," he said, adding he expected the volume of trade and tourism to increase significantly. "Most importantly, I wish that the two peoples will get to know each other better: in delegation visits, joint cultural activities, etc. We want a very warm peace with Bahrain."
Referring to the tensions in the Gulf, Bennett pointed to Iran as the source of security concerns to both Israel and Bahrain. "We will fight Iran and its followers in the region night and day. We will aid our friends in strengthening peace, security and stability, whenever we are asked to do so," he said.
Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa speaks at the opening ceremony of the Manama Dialogue 2012 in Manama, capital of Bahrain, on Dec. 7, 2012. (Xinhua File photo)
Bennett landed in Bahrain's capital Manama on Monday, less than two weeks after Israel and Bahrain signed their first security cooperation deal that formalized mutual defense relations.
Bahrain normalized ties with Israel in September 2020 as part of the Abraham Accords, a series of agreements between Israel and Arab states sponsored by the United States.
The visit also comes amid Israel's diplomatic efforts to halt the ongoing nuclear talks between world powers and Iran. ■
