Bahrain FM to Make First Visit to Israel

Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdellatif al-Zayani is to make a visit to Israel on Wednesday, the first by a senior Bahraini official since the two countries signed a normalization deal, official media said.

The BNA news agency said the visit would "affirm Bahrain's strong and permanent position in favor of supporting the peace process" and be focused on "the economic opportunities and bilateral accords with Israel."

Bahrain and its Gulf neighbor, the United Arab Emirates, both signed U.S.-sponsored normalization accords with Israel on September 15 at the White House.

Israel and the UAE last month signed agreements on visa-free travel, civil aviation, investment protection, and science and technology during a first official Emirati visit to the Jewish state.

The UAE led the way in forging ties between the Gulf and Israel, announcing its decision in August, before Bahrain followed suit a month later.