Israel Seeks Free Trade Zone Agreement With Bahrain
-
Raven Ruma
- . September 4, 2023
- . Update: September 4, 2023 3:45 pm
Israel is working on reaching a free trade zone agreement with Bahrain, says the Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen who is on a two-day official visit in the kingdom. His visit comes just before the third anniversary of the Abraham Accords. Cohen is with a delegation of political and commercial officials, and is expected to hold talks with King Hamad and Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani.
The Israeli minister said they are looking forward to signing the free trade zone agreement and deepening the relationship between Israel and Bahrain. “This visit comes in order to continue building, expanding and deepening the friendship, while strengthening agreements in the economic and trade fields.” Cohen envisions a Middle East in which people live in peace and security. “To ensure economic prosperity, job opportunities, and create a new reality.”
In regards to the free trade agreement, he said the Book of Ezekiel dealt with trade with Arab princes and princesses. “Of course, we aspire to renew this history and create trade corridors with a focus on the benefits of relations.” Israel and Bahrain sealed full diplomatic relations in September 2020 as part of the US-led Abraham Accords.
Keep Reading
Cohen said Israel plans to expand the circle of peace within the Abraham Accords agreement, amid US-led normalization talks with Saudi Arabia. He expects more countries to join the Abraham Accords in the coming months.
“I believe the inclusion of Arab countries in the circle of peace is what will improve the possibility of reaching a solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. There is no one in the world more interested in ending the issue with the Palestinians than Israel.”
However, in recent months Israel has been the center of criticism for human rights abuses in Palestine and storming of Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, raids in Palestine’s Nablus and Jenin refugee camp. As such, the Jewish state has recorded a decline in relations and interests from Morocco, the UAE and Bahrain.
