Bahrain's foreign minister called for fresh Israeli-Palestinian peace talks during a landmark meeting Wednesday in Israel with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"To achieve and consolidate such a peace, the Palestinian and Israeli conflict needs to be resolved," Abdellatif al-Zayani said during a joint press conference held with Pompeo and Netanyahu.
"I call for both parties to get around the negotiating table to achieve a viable two-state solution," said Bahrain's first minister on an official visit to Jerusalem, AFP reported.
Al-Zayani, who described the visit as historic, compared it to Egyptian president Anwar Sadat’s November 1977 visit to Jerusalem.
"Late president Sadat of Egypt first visited Israel, planting the seeds of regional peace, which we are nurturing further today," he noted.
For his part, Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi praised the visit of the Bahraini delegation to Israel and affirmed that both sides agreed to set up embassies in each others' countries.
“I hope that by the end of the year we will be able to hold ceremonies to mark their openings,” he said, adding that he plans to visit Manama in December to personally open the mission.
He also announced that Bahraini citizens will be able to apply online for visas to Israel starting December 1.
