Ambassador Khaled Al Jalahma, Bahrain’s first ambassador to Israel. Photo: Bahrain Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ambassador Khaled Al Jalahma, Bahrain’s first ambassador to Israel. Photo: Bahrain Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ambassador Khaled Al Jalahma, Bahrain’s first ambassador to Israel. Photo: Bahrain Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ambassador Khaled Al Jalahma, Bahrain’s first ambassador to Israel. Photo: Bahrain Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Bahrain's first ambassador to Israel arrives to assume post


Mina Aldroubi
  • English
  • Arabic

Khaled Yousef Al Jalahma became Bahrain's first ambassador to Israel on Tuesday, a year after a historic deal was signed to normalise ties with Israel.

Under the Abraham Accords, which former US president Donald Trump helped broker in August last year and signed on the White House lawn in September 2020, the UAE and Bahrain agreed to officially establish relations with Israel on condition it suspended the planned annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank and Jordan Valley.

“The opportunity to fulfil ... King Hamad Al Khalifa’s vision of peaceful coexistence with all nations is a privilege that I will hold in high regard,” Mr Al Jalahma said before landing in Tel Aviv.

The Bahraini diplomat posted pictures on Twitter of his touchdown in the Israeli capital.

"A historic journey in the making accompanied by my wife. We are both very excited!" he said.


Mr Al Jalahma landed at Ben Gurion International Airport where he was greeted by Gil Haskel, chief of state protocol at Israel's Foreign Ministry.

The Bahraini diplomat served as the foreign ministry's director of operations and before that was deputy chief of mission at Bahrain’s embassy to the US from 2009 to 2013.

Last November, Bahrain and Israel agreed to open embassies in their respective capitals.

Israel named Itay Tagner as its charge d'affaires to Bahrain and Eitan Naeh as charge d’affaires to the UAE in January.

In February, Mohamed Al Khaja was named the UAE's first ambassador to Israel.

Last month, Mr Al Khaja took part in an inauguration ceremony in Tel Aviv with Israeli President Isaac Herzog to officially open the Emirati embassy in Israel.

Morocco and Sudan also joined Bahrain and the UAE in officially establishing relations with Israel.


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The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
About Housecall

Date started: July 2020

Founders: Omar and Humaid Alzaabi

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: HealthTech

# of staff: 10

Funding to date: Self-funded

RACE CARD

6.30pm: Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Dirt) 1,600m

7.05pm: Meydan Sprint – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (Turf) 1,000m

7.40pm: Curlin Stakes – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (D) 2,200m

8.15pm: UAE Oaks – Group 3 (TB) $125,000 (D) 1,900m

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9.25pm: Balanchine – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,800m

10pm: Al Shindagha Sprint – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (D) 1,200m

Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

ESSENTIALS

The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.

The hotels

Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.

The tours

A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages. 

The biog

From: Upper Egypt

Age: 78

Family: a daughter in Egypt; a son in Dubai and his wife, Nabila

Favourite Abu Dhabi activity: walking near to Emirates Palace

Favourite building in Abu Dhabi: Emirates Palace

Company profile

Company: Rent Your Wardrobe 

Date started: May 2021 

Founder: Mamta Arora 

Based: Dubai 

Sector: Clothes rental subscription 

Stage: Bootstrapped, self-funded 

Sam Smith

Where: du Arena, Abu Dhabi

When: Saturday November 24

Rating: 4/5

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
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The Brutalist

Director: Brady Corbet

Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn

Rating: 3.5/5

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Updated: September 01, 2021, 8:04 AM`