JERUSALEM 

Bahrain’s Ambassador to Israel, Khaled Yousef al-Jalahma, arrived in Tel Aviv on Tuesday to assume his official duties, the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported.

"The opportunity to fulfil 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-Jalahma said.

In late March, Bahrain announced the appointment of al-Jalahma as the Gulf state's first ambassador to Israel.

Al-Jalahmah has been the Director of Operations at the Bahraini Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 2017, and served as Bahrain’s deputy ambassador to the United States between 2009 and 2013.

With his arrival, al-Jalahma becomes the fourth Arab ambassador in Tel Aviv, after the ambassadors of Egypt, Jordan and the UAE.

In mid-January, Israel appointed Itay Tagner as chargé d'affaires for the Israeli Embassy in Manama.

In September 2020, Israel and Bahrain signed an agreement to normalize relations between the two countries.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat