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.
Founders: Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Turki Bin Zarah and Abdulmohsen Albabtain.
Based: Riyadh
Offices: UAE, Vietnam and Germany
Founded: September, 2020
Number of employees: 70
Sector: FinTech, online payment solutions
Funding to date: $116m in two funding rounds
Investors: Checkout.com, Impact46, Vision Ventures, Wealth Well, Seedra, Khwarizmi, Hala Ventures, Nama Ventures and family offices
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
Results
6pm: Dubai Trophy – Conditions (TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,200m
Winner: Silent Speech, William Buick (jockey), Charlie Appleby
(trainer)
6.35pm: Jumeirah Derby Trial – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (T)
1,800m
Winner: Island Falcon, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
7.10pm: UAE 2000 Guineas Trial – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (Dirt)
1,400m
Winner: Rawy, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
7.45pm: Al Rashidiya – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner: Desert Fire, Hector Crouch, Saeed bin Suroor
8.20pm: Al Fahidi Fort – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Naval Crown, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
8.55pm: Dubawi Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Al Tariq, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watsons
9.30pm: Aliyah – Rated Conditions (TB) $80,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Dubai Icon, Patrick Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor
Scores in brief:
- New Medical Centre 129-5 in 17 overs bt Zayed Cricket Academy 125-6 in 20 overs.
- William Hare Abu Dhabi Gymkhana 188-8 in 20 overs bt One Stop Tourism 184-8 in 20 overs
- Alubond Tigers 138-7 in 20 overs bt United Bank Limited 132-7 in 20 overs
- Multiplex 142-6 in 17 overs bt Xconcepts Automobili 140 all out in 20 overs
