Bahrain’s first ambassador to Israel, Khaled Yousif Al-Jalahma, presented his credentials to President Isaac Herzog on Tuesday at the president’s residence in Jerusalem.
Jalahma handed over her letter of credibility to Herzog in a formal ceremony, a day before the one-year anniversary of the signing of the Abraham Accords in the White House, which normalized ties between Jerusalem and Manama.
Jalahma held a diplomatic meeting with Herzog after the presentation ceremony, which was followed by joint statements to the press in Hebrew and Arabic.
“Brave states are taking brave steps,” Herzog told Jalahma. “Abraham’s covenants were the fruit of both vision and power.”
The president called the relationship a “model for the entire Middle East” and expressed hope that other countries would follow Bahrain’s example.
Herzog also stressed the threat that Iran poses to both nations.
Bahrain’s Ambassador to Israel Khaled Al Jalahma (left) and President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem on September 14, 2021. (GPO)
“Right now,” he said, “as new credible reports arrive on Iran’s progress toward nuclear weapons capability, it is more important than ever to be united in our fight against the extremist forces working. to undermine stability and peace in our region. “
Jalahma conveyed the personal greetings of the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and the Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
Jalahma, who described it as “a great honor” to be Bahrain’s first ambassador to Israel, said that “peace is the strategic choice of the Kingdom of Bahrain … His Majesty the King believes that dialogue, understanding and the creation of trust are high principles and main foundations for achieving cooperation between nations and peoples … I am sure that this historic step will establish a solid basis for relations between our two countries, based on the values of tolerance and coexistence between peoples, beliefs and religions “.
Jalahma wished the citizens of Israel “health, well-being, security, stability and prosperity” and said he would work to make relations beneficial for both nations.
Bahrain’s first ambassador to Israel, Khaled Yousif Al-Jalahma (C), is joined by President Isaac Herzog (L) and his wife after presenting his credentials at the president’s residence in Jerusalem on September 14. 2021 (Amos Ben-Gershom / GPO)
“These are not just brave and historic steps,” Jalahma concluded. “These are giant steps toward a future of peace, security, and prosperity for all of us. all nations to fight for a better, more prosperous and secure world. “
On September 15, 2020, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain became the first Gulf countries to establish formal relations with the Jewish state. Later, Sudan and Morocco also normalized ties with Israel.
Earlier Tuesday, Herzog received credentials from the ambassadors of Mexico, Estonia, Spain, Greece and the Vatican City.
Mexican envoy Mauricio Escanero Figueroa invited Herzog to visit Mexico in 2022 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the ties between Israel and Mexico. Herzog responded with an invitation to Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
Herzog called on Estonian Ambassador Veikko Kala to convey his congratulations to Alar Karkis on his recent election as president and stressed his expectation that Western countries would boycott the UN’s Durban IV conference on 22 September on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the World Conference against Racism in Durban, South Africa. .
The United States, Britain, Canada and several other countries have announced that they will not be attending the event. It commemorates the 20th anniversary of the notorious World Conference on Racism in the same city and a Forum of different NGOs, where Israel was singled out for racism and some participants tried to equate Zionism with racism, which led to an Israeli exit. and American. Subsequent Durban conferences have also sparked boycotts by nations concerned about their anti-Semitic character.
President Isaac Herzog (right) receives the credentials of the Apostolic Nuncio of the Vatican City State, HE Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana (Amos Ben-Gershom / GPO)
The Spanish ambassador, Ana María Salomón Pérez, discussed with Herzog the history of the Jews in Spain and the ways to strengthen bilateral relations.
Herzog thanked envoy Kyriakos Loukakis for inviting the Greek president to visit her and congratulated Israeli-Greek cooperation in fighting the fires this summer. He also called on Loukakis for help in restarting the annual meetings of the EU-Israel Association Council.
Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana, the apostolic nuncio of the Vatican, presented his credentials below. Herzog reiterated Israel’s commitment to freedom of worship and the protection of holy places in Israel and added that Pope Francis is a “very important voice.”