On Tuesday, the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, issued a Royal Decree appointing Ambassador Khalid Yusuf Al-Jalahma as the head of the country’s Diplomatic Mission to Israel. Al-Jalahma will be Manama’s first ambassador to Israel since the establishment of full diplomatic relations between the countries last year.
Shortly after the announcement, Bahrain’s Foreign Minister, Abdullatif al-Zayani, spoke with his Israeli counterpart, Gabi Ashkenazi, and updated him about the decision to open an embassy in Israel and sought his approval for the appointment of Al-Jalahma to the post of ambassador. Ashkenazi welcomed the move and thanked al-Zayani for his “strong friendship, as well as for the courage and leadership of the King of Bahrain,” while stressing that Bahrain’s action is “another important step in the implementation of the peace agreement between and of the strengthening of ties between the two countries.” Ashkenazi also said in a tweet that the decision proves “the strong bond being forged” between the two sides.
The move comes about six months after the normalisation of relations between the two nations under the framework of the Abraham Accords, which have also been signed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sudan, and Morocco. The Accords, introduced by former United States (US) President Donald Trump, aim to establish lasting peace between Israel and its neighbours by pursuing a vision of “peace, security, and prosperity in the Middle East and around the world.”
However, the agreements have also incited popular discontent throughout the Middle East, with protests taking place in all four countries that established diplomatic ties with Israel, and many calling the so-called “deal of the century” a betrayal against the Palestinian cause. Palestinians fear that the deal could embolden Israel to continue its illegal occupation of Palestinian territories.
The accords can also be seen as an instance where Arab and Israeli interests have converged over Iranian security threats in the region. Iranian clout in the Middle East has been growing, with Tehran exerting more influence on its proxies than ever. Iran’s nuclear programme is also being seen as a major security challenge to both Israel and its Arab neighbours.
In this context, Bahrain’s move to appoint Al-Jalahma as its ambassador to Israel is reflective of the urgency of the situation, as seen by both Manama and Tel Aviv. Jalahma was previously the Director of Operations of the Bahraini Foreign Office since 2017 and served as Deputy Ambassador of Bahrain to the US between 2009 and 2013. The Israeli foreign ministry also stated that a “team from Bahrain will arrive in Israel to make the necessary arrangements” in the coming weeks.
Bahrain Appoints First Ambassador to Israel, Furthering Abraham Accords Vision
The move comes as Bahrain announced that it would be establishing its embassy in Israel, although the exact location is yet to be declared.
March 31, 2021
Bahrain's newly appointed ambassador to Israel, Khalid Yusuf Al-Jalahma SOURCE: BAHRAIN FOREIGN MINISTRY