Bahrain okays opening of Israeli embassy in Manama

Bahrain has okayed Israel’s request to establish an embassy in Manama and is in turn seeking authorization to open an embassy in Israel as well, the Gulf country’s foreign minister says, during a short visit to the Jewish state.

This process should be completed by the end of the year, his Israeli counterpart Gabi Ashkenazi says at a joint press appearance at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem.

“I was pleased to convey to Minister Ashkenazi the Kingdom of Bahrain’s formal request to open an embassy in Israel, and to inform him that Israel’s reciprocal request for an embassy in Manama has been approved,” Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani says.

“This is a process which I hope can now move forward relatively quickly.”

He is the first-ever Bahraini minister to visit Israel.

— Raphael Ahren