Naftali Bennett's historic visit to Bahrain

Tel Aviv continues to strengthen its ties with the Gulf countries in the strategic line of strengthening alliances against the Islamic Republic of Iran. With this in mind, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett began a two-day official visit to the Arab country of Bahrain on Monday. The trip has been described as "historic", and during his stay, Bennett met with Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad.

"This is the first official visit by an Israeli prime minister to Bahrain, but it is not just a symbolic visit," Bennett told The Times of Israel in an interview. "My purpose is to mould more content in the Abraham Accords in trade, in people-to-people relations and in all aspects," he added, referring to his expectations of a trip that took place at the invitation of Prince Salman bin Hamad last November.

According to a statement issued by Naftali Bennett's ministerial office, the Israeli minister and the Bahraini crown prince "discussed additional ways to strengthen bilateral ties", ensuring the maintenance of 'peace, progress and prosperity in the region and especially progress in diplomatic and economic matters, with an emphasis on technology and innovation'.

After being greeted by Salman bin Hamad with the Israeli anthem "Hatikvah" playing in the background, Bennett and the prince met for several hours in the Bahraini leader's office, in a meeting that Bahraini officials described as fruitful. "Due to [Bennett's] determination and leadership, this was a productive and successful visit," bin Hamad's office said.  

In addition, the two governments reached agreements in the field of research and development, and expressed their interest in accelerating negotiations on an economic and trade treaty to promote investment flows. Tel Aviv and Manama also agreed to fund joint business projects, especially in technology, manufacturing and e-commerce linked to sustainability and climate.

Bennett's agenda also included meetings with the ministers of finance, foreign affairs, transport and industry, as well as with representatives of the Jewish community in Bahrain. A very small community of around 50 people has been forced to practise its faith behind closed doors since 1974, when the country's only synagogue, located in the Bahraini capital of Manama, was destroyed during Arab-Israeli clashes. 

In August 2021, the Manama synagogue officially reopened its doors, allowing Jews to hold their first public Sabbath prayer in more than seven decades. The Jewish community plays a significant role in the process of normalising relations between Israel and Bahrain. 

The kick-start in the restoration of diplomatic ties between Bahrain and Israel came with the signing of agreements on the normalisation of relations in 2020, in the framework of the Abraham Accords Peace Agreement. Since then, the two powers have made gradual progress in their budding relationship through visits such as that of Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid in September 2021. 

In this vein, just a fortnight ago, Israeli Defence Minister Benjamin Gantz publicly signed a memorandum of understanding on security matters between Israel and Bahrain, making the Arab country the first Gulf country - the second Arab country after Morocco - to sign such an agreement with Tel Aviv. Among the objectives of the pact, Manama and Tel Aviv seek to enhance intelligence cooperation, promote joint training and deepen the partnership between their defence industries. 

However, an overview of Israel's strategy in recent months shows that the promotion of its relations with the Gulf states is aimed at forging alliances to counterbalance Iranian power. Bennett's visit to the Emirati capital of Abu Dhabi last December was in line with this strategic approach. In the words of Yoel Guzansky, a researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, speaking to AFP, Naftali Bennett's recent trip to Bahrain 'is a show of force, a symbolism that the [Gulf] countries are working together'. 

Since the end of 2021, when China, France, Germany, the UK, Russia, the UK and Iran resumed negotiations to revive the 2015 Nuclear Deal (JCPOA), Israel's position has remained publicly opposed to dialogue with Tehran. The Jewish authorities fear that the reinstatement of the pact and the consequent lifting of economic sanctions against the Iranian regime will allow the Persian country to finalise the manufacture of nuclear weapons and strengthen its positions to attack Israel. 

Indeed, having made it a central theme in meetings with Bahraini leaders, Naftali Bennett told the Arabic daily Al-Ayyam: "We will fight Iran and its supporters in the region night and day. We will help our friends to strengthen peace, security and stability, whenever we are asked to do so".

"Iran supports terrorist groups active in your region and in our region [...] and seeks to destroy moderate states that care about the welfare of their people and work for security and peace. We all understand that we face the same challenges, so why not work together to address them," the Israeli minister said.