Tel Aviv – Asharq Al-Awsat
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will make a three-day official visit to the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain on Feb. 9, political sources in Tel Aviv said Friday.
The sources said Netanyahu would kick off his trip in Abu Dhabi for talks with Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, before travelling the next day to Dubai where he would hold meetings with Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, in addition to a number of businessmen.
On the third day, the Israeli PM is scheduled to depart for a six-hour visit to the Bahraini capital of Manama, where he will hold a meeting with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
The sources said the visit will go as planned as long as none of the countries force a lockdown in the coming weeks.
The administration of former US President Donald Trump has brokered agreements with Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates toward normalizing their relations with Israel.
Netanyahu’s spokesperson said that the PM was planning to visit the two countries last summer, following the signing of the Abraham Accords. However, the trip was replaced by visits at the level of ministers.
