Netanyahu meets Bahrain minister, hails ‘real peace’

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with Bahrain’s Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism Zayed bin Rashid Al-Zayani, who is the second cabinet member from the Gulf kingdom to visit Israel in two weeks.

“These are wondrous days. This is the day when we realize peace, because of the courageous decision made by King Hamad, because of the extraordinary energy and initiative of Bahrainis and Israelis who are eager to embrace one another, to get to know one another, to do business with one another in all there is: in tourism and commerce and industry. You have quite a few portfolios, I have to say, and evidently you do very, very well with that,” says Netanyahu ahead of the meeting.

“We’ve signed some agreements. We have more to go, and more importantly, I think we understand this is a real peace—a peace between our peoples, a peace that will open economic benefits that were unimaginable just a few months ago, but now are coming to be. And I think this will broaden the circle of peace not only for our own two peoples, but for all countries in the Middle East and perhaps beyond,” he adds.

“So I want to welcome you in the spirit of peace and prosperity and cooperation and friendship. Welcome.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) with Bahraini Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism Zayed bin Rashid Al-Zayani in Jerusalem on December 2, 2020 (Amos Ben-Gershom/GPO)