Bahrain Hails Peace with Israel as Gantz Lands for First Official Visit

Defense Minister Benny Gantz landed in Manama, Bahrain, Wednesday for the first official visit by the leader of Israel’s defense establishment to the Gulf country.

A welcome ceremony was held at Bahrain International Airport, during which the minister was greeted by his Bahraini counterpart, Minister of Defense Affairs H.E. Lieutenant General Abdullah Bin Hassan Al Nuaimi.

Bahraini deputy foreign minister Abdullah ben Ahmad said that “Peace with Israel has changed our entire outlook.”

Regarding Iran, he noted that Tehran is “arming militias with ballistic missiles and undermining the security of the region. He called on the Islamic Republic to respect international maritime borders and to refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of other nations.

“Iran has to be forced to submit to controls of its nuclear program under the inspection of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

“We are working with Israel on a joint strategy to bring greater peace and prosperity to our countries,” he added.

The Bahraini foreign minister thanked the United States for classifying the Iranian Revolutionary Guard a terror organization, thereby recognizing its role in seeking to destabilize countries in the Middle East.

Gantz was expected to sign an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with his counterpart, Minister of Defense Affairs Abdullah Bin Hassan Al Noaimi, before returning to Israel late Thursday night.

The MoU is aimed at formalizing defense relations between the two countries, allowing for increased cooperation in various fields. It will include a number of arms agreements and other defense-related transactions.

Gantz is joined by Chief of Staff Maayan Israeli, Commander of the Israeli Navy Admiral David Saar Salama, Military Secretary Brig. Gen. Yaki Dolf, and Director of the Policy and Political-Military Bureau Zohar Palti.

The aircraft carrying the delegation is the first IAF plane to land in Bahrain.