Gantz hails Israel-Bahrain normalization deal

Defense Minister Benny Gantz issues his first statement on yesterday’s announcement of a US-brokered agreement between Israel and Bahrain to normalize diplomatic ties.

“I praise the prime minister and the king of Bahrain for advancing normalization between Israel and Bahrain, and in the name of Israeli citizens thank President Trump and the American administration for the extraordinary efforts to build a more stable Middle East,” Gantz says in a statement following Shabbat.

Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, the No. 2 in Gantz’s Blue and White party, spoke with his Bahraini counterpart on the phone earlier today.

“We agreed to stay in touch with the aim of improving and deepening the ties between the countries and to contribute to the peace and balance in the Middle East,” Ashkenazi tweets.