Israel's first symbolic commercial plane landed in Bahrain

Senior Israeli and American officials landed in Bahrain today on the first symbolic commercial flight between Tel Aviv and Manama, a month after signing an agreement to normalise relations between the two states.

Boeing 737 was established by Tel Aviv this morning and landed three hours later in Manama, Israel's Foreign Ministry confirmed.

The first trade flights <x0real” for tourists and business people from Israel and Bahrain will be one of the topics planned for bilateral negotiations and working meetings. They will also discuss diplomacy, medicine, technology, trade and tourism.

Israel signed an agreement at the White House last month to normalise relations with Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

Egypt became the first Arab state to sign a peace agreement with Israel in 1979, and the second Jordan in 1994. No other Arab state normalised relations with Israel until last month.

By signing the agreement, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain violated the preconditions of the 2002 Arab League, under which Israel must first recognise an independent Palestinian state and eastern Jerusalem its capital.

The angry Palestinians view this act as a betrayal. Israel, on the other hand, has only agreed to postpone the planned annexation of occupied West Coast parts, which Palestinians claim right.

Israeli National Security Adviser Meir Ben Shabat, who led the Israeli delegation today, said the agreement signed at the White House on September 15th will be formed in concrete plans”.