Israeli Top Minister Naftali Bennett arrived in Bahrain’s capital Manama on Monday within the highest-level consult with because the nations established family members underneath a 2020 U.S.-sponsored deal based totally partially on shared worries about Iran.
Bennett will meet with Bahraini Crown Prince and Top Minister Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, his workplace mentioned.
“The leaders will talk about further techniques to enhance bilateral ties … particularly the development of diplomatic and financial problems, with an emphasis on era and innovation,” it mentioned in a observation.
The 2-day go back and forth to Bahrain, house to the U.S. Army’s Gulf headquarters, comes amid heightened tensions after missile assaults at the neighbouring United Arab Emirates by way of Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis. Israel additionally normalised ties with the UAE in 2020.
Talking to journalists sooner than take-off, Bennett mentioned he was hoping the consult with can be a “message of goodwill … and a shared stance towards commonplace threats”.
Israel has stepped up cooperation with the Gulf states. Manama hosted Israel’s defence minister on Feb. 2 and has mentioned an Israeli army officer shall be posted in Bahrain as a part of a world coalition.
The outreach by way of Bahrain’s Sunni Muslim monarch has been criticised by way of an opposition led by way of the Shi’ite majority. The rustic has observed protests in unity with the Palestinians.
There have been temporary protests in different Shi’ite villages forward of Bennett’s consult with, activists instructed Reuters. Pictures and pictures posted on Bahrain’s dissolved opposition workforce al-Wefaq’s social media accounts confirmed dozens of protesters marching, chanting slogans and conserving up Bahraini flags.
Israel has presented to cooperate with its new Gulf companions on air defence, however has now not specified whether or not this may come with promoting the short-range rocket interceptor Iron Dome.
Such gross sales prior to now had been subjected to questions of whether or not the methods can be safe and now not be shared with Israel’s enemies. There has additionally been fear it will pose a industrial problem to U.S. defence exports.
However a U.S. professional noticed no downside in Washington had been Israel to move forward with Iron Dome gross sales within the Gulf.
“There’s numerous hobby in Iron Dome” within the area, mentioned the professional, who may now not be known by way of title.