The senior Israeli diplomat landed at Manama airport, where a Gulf Air plane was due to take off for the first commercial flight between the two countries soon after.
Lapid makes Israel’s first bilateral ministerial visit to Bahrain, as part of a thaw in regional relations after the UAE, Morocco and Sudan also established relations last year under agreements known as the Abrahamic Accord.
However, anger is boiling in some quarters over the move, which broke decades of Arab consensus that there will be no relationship with Israel until the Palestinian issue is resolved.
of Manama early Thursday, sending clouds of black smoke into the air, and the hashtag #BahrainRejectsZionists in Arabic circulated on social media.
Additional security was stationed on the road leading to the airport job function email database and no Israeli flags were visible on the main roads. Opposition activists called for more protests later Thursday.
Memoranda of understanding on technology and economics will be signed during Lapid’s visit, as well as agreements involving Israel’s national water company and Sheba Hospital, Israeli officials said.
Foreign Minister Yair Lapid makes Israel’s first bilateral ministerial visit to Bahrain, as regional ties thaw after UAE, Morocco and Sudan also established ties last year Alexander NEMENOV SWIMMING POOL / AFP
Arab countries involved in the Abrahamic accords have highlighted the economic benefits of ties with Israel, with half a billion dollars in trade already reported with the UAE.