Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said he hoped to expand the "circle of peace" as he discussed normalisation during a two-day visit to Bahrain, ahead of talks with King Hamad.
Writing on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, Mr Cohen said he discussed the two nations' commitment to "fighting against terrorism" and "promoting a free trade agreement" with Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
"We look forward to expanding the circle of peace and normalisation to other countries in the region," he said.
The Crown Prince met Mr Cohen at Manama's Gudaibiya Palace, Bahrain state news agency BNA reported.
Prince Al Khalifa said the kingdom holds a "firm stance" towards achieving sustainable peace that guarantees the rights of Palestinians, the report said.
The UAE and Bahrain established ties with Israel under the Abraham Accords, signed in the US in 2020.
Mr Cohen is visiting Bahrain less than two weeks before the third anniversary of the accords.
He was accompanied by a delegation of political and commercial officials and is also scheduled to hold discussions with Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani.
A video shared by Israeli news outlet Kan showed parts of a ceremony to open the renovated permanent residence of the Israeli Embassy in Manama attended by the Bahraini and Israeli Foreign Ministers.
The new embassy will replace the first one that Israel opened in 2021, a year after it normalised ties with Bahrain.
Mr Al Zayani said the event signified a “shared commitment to strengthening and cultivating bilateral relations”.
“As we build into deeper diplomatic endeavours and engage in bilateral co-operation across various sectors, the establishment of this new embassy assumes a pivotal role in our collaboration,” he said.
Mr Cohen's visit coincides with growing speculation about an agreement to establish ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Israel and the US have said they do not believe such a deal is imminent, while Saudi Arabia has not yet commented on the issue.
The UAE, Bahrain and other Gulf states have criticised Israeli military operations in the occupied Palestine this year.
The storming of Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem and raids by on the Palestinian city of Nablus and the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank were among the Israeli actions that led to condemnation from the Gulf.
More than 170 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the start of 2023, according to a tally by the Associated Press.
ZAYED SUSTAINABILITY PRIZE
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
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Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
