Israel's Netanyahu planning to visit Bahrain 'soon'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that he will pay a visit to Bahrain “soon,” in the latest sign of normalized diplomatic relations between the two Middle East countries.

In their second conversation since the signing of the US-brokered Abraham Accords in mid-September, Netanyahu and the Gulf state’s Crown Prince Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa discussed the “strengthening of bilateral relations” on the phone Tuesday.

“Both of us are very moved by the fact that we can bring peace to our peoples and our countries in a very short time. Therefore, he also invited me to make an official visit to Bahrain soon. I will do so, on your behalf, with pleasure," Netanyahu said in a statement posted to Twitter.

Last week, Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani led the first official visit from a Bahraini delegation to Israel. The two countries said they expect to open reciprocal embassies by the end of the year, and beginning next month, citizens of Bahrain and Israel can apply online for entry visas.