Israel has named its first ambassador to Bahrain, after normalizing relations with the Gulf Arab state a year ago, an Israeli government Arabic-language Twitter account said on Thursday.
The Supreme Appointments Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs tapped Eitan Na'eh to head the diplomatic mission in Manama pending government approval.
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Israel’s ambassador to the UAE, Eitan Na’eh (L.), talks with an Emirati official during the Global Investment Forum in Dubai
(Photo: AP)
Na'eh had for eight months served as temporary head of mission at the Israeli embassy in the United Arab Emirates, the first Gulf state with which Israel established diplomatic relations in August last year.
Before taking the post in Abu Dhabi, he served as ambassador to Turkey.
In September 2020, the UAE and Bahrain both inked U.S.-brokered deals to establish ties with Israel, a move later followed by Sudan and Morocco.
The committee also made appointments for diplomatic posts in Kenya, Myanmar, Nigeria and Bangalore.
Earlier in the week, Bahrain's first ambassador to Israel arrived in Tel Aviv to take up the post.
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Bahrani ambassador to Israel Khaled Yousef al-Jalahmah presenting his credentials to Foreign Minister Yair Lapid on Thursday
(Photo: Elad Gotman)
Khaled Yousef al-Jalahmah landed at Ben Gurion International Airport to take up his post on behalf of the Gulf state, where he was greeted by Gil Haskel, chief of state protocol at Israel's Foreign Ministry.
“The opportunity to fulfill His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s vision of peaceful coexistence with all nations is a privilege that I will hold in high regard,” al-Jalahmah posted to Twitter in Arabic and Hebrew before touching down in Israel.