A Bahraini official discussed with the Acting Ambassador of Israel to the Kingdom the latest developments regarding opening the Israeli embassy and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Manama.
The Bahraini-owned news agency stated that Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa exchanged “views on the current situation and developments on the regional and international arenas of common interest.”
Private sources told Bahraini Leaks that the meeting on Wednesday discussed arrangements for Netanyahu’s visit to Bahrain, scheduled for the end of this month or early February.
Netanyahu aims behind the visit to achieve internal electoral gains with the imminent holding of the Knesset general elections next March.
According to the sources, among what was discussed was the completion of the necessary equipment to open an embassy for Tel Aviv in Manama.
Opening the embassy in Manama will end 25 years of secret relations between Israel and Bahrain.
The Israeli Jerusalem Post had expected that Netanyahu would conduct his visit to Bahrain after the end of the current closure imposed in Israel due to the Coronavirus.
Netanyahu postponed his visit three times to Bahrain, due to the lockdown conditions Israel.
Mutual praise
In statements reflecting the Bahraini regime and ignoring the popular rejection of Israel’s rapprochement policies, the Bahraini official during the meeting praised Israel.
Abdullah bin Ahmed praised what he described as the “good efforts” made by Tagner in strengthening relations between “the two friendly countries,” as he put it.
On the other hand, the Acting Ambassador of Israel to Bahrain expressed his country’s appreciation for what he described as “the wise and pioneering policy of the Kingdom of Bahrain.”
He claimed that this policy “contributes to enhancing the region’s security and prosperity,” according to his claim.
Israel and Bahrain announced that they established diplomatic relations in September as part of the Ibrahim Accords.
Since the announcement, Tel Aviv and Manama have exchanged official delegations, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain and the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism visited Israel.
Last week, Bahraini Leaks, citing security sources, learned that the ruling regime’s security services had arrested three persons who were intending to carry out operations targeting Israelis in Manama.
The sources stated that the three young men do not have any previous criminal record or even positions against the ruling regime.
The sources explained that the three persons confessed during their interrogations that their motives for carrying out operations targeting Israelis are their desire not to have Israelis in their country.
And for their rejection of the normalization agreement concluded by the Khilafiyya regime with Israel.
Popular discontent
The normalization agreement caused shock, resentment and widespread popular rejection among the Bahraini people, their political societies and civil society institutions.
This clear rejection was reflected in the Bahraini people’s announcement to reject the normalizers and those who make normalization visits to Israel.
The president of the Bahraini Journalists Association, Ahdia Ahmed Al-Sayed, complained about the Bahraini community’s lack of acceptance of her fellow print journalists.
READ: Netanyahu to visit Bahrain “as soon as possible”
This is because of their explicit support for the normalization agreement with Israel.
Ahmed Al-Sayed said during a conference with Jewish journalists a few days ago that she had been subjected to social attack in Bahrain because of her support for the normalization agreement.
17 Bahraini political societies and civil society institutions confirmed that normalization with Israel does not represent the Kingdom’s people and will not produce peace.
Bahrain considers the normalization agreement it concluded with Israel as a salvation from the economic crises it suffers from, and to beautify its ugly face globally at the human rights level.