Knesset authorizes normalization with Manama; Israeli delegation to go to Khartoum next week.
By LAHAV HARKOVThe national flags of Bahrain, Israel and America, flutter in near the Israeli flag carrier El Al plane, October 18, 2020(photo credit: REUTERS/RONEN ZEVULUN)
Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani will visit Israel soon, Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi told the Knesset on Tuesday.Ashkenazi made the remarks during a debate on Israel’s normalization of ties with Bahrain, which the legislature authorized with 62 in favor and 14 opposed, all from the Joint List.The Foreign Minister said the agreements with Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates mark a new age of peace and cooperation, and that there is great potential for “warm peace” with the countries.“This agreement opened a tremendous window of opportunity for development and promoting broad economic and trade cooperation and a contribution to the Israeli economy,” Ashkenazi said. “There is a line connecting the states of the Middle East, a line of trade, tourism, transportation, of partnership and relations between people, between societies, between businesses, not just between governments.”Ashkenazi called on the Palestinians to “join this discourse…This is the time for a discourse of unity and creating true and honest peace, without preconditions.”The Foreign Minister also expressed hope that the US will continue working “to strengthen regional stability and peace in the Middle East” under Joe Biden’s presidency.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opened the discussion, saying that “Bahrain is a small country with big dreams. It has oil and natural gas, but doesn’t rely only on them. It has a free economy, a growing economy.”Netanyahu also hailed Bahrain’s tolerance for women and its small Jewish community.The prime minister said that there are more Arab states that are fostering ties with Israel below the surface, and expressed hope that more will become public over time.“The circle of peace will broaden, with stability and growth, creating a force facing off against radical Islam led by Iran,” he stated.
On Sunday, Israel plans to send its first delegation to Sudan to firm up the countries’ US-brokered normalization, announced on October 23, a source briefed on the provisional itinerary said.The source, who declined to be identified by name or nationality, spoke to Reuters on Tuesday.The Foreign Ministry said no official delegation had been finalized. Netanyahu’s office, which has spearheaded outreach to Khartoum, had no immediate comment. Nor did Sudanese officials.The Trump administration’s decision last month to remove Sudan from the US list of terrorism sponsors helped pave the way for ties with Israel.Israel and Sudan have said they planned to begin by opening economic and trade links, with an initial focus on agriculture.Reuters contributed to this report.
