Bahrain Wednesday welcomed the first ever direct flight from Israel, in sign of normalization between of the countries following September 15 official accord signed in Washington.
An Israir Airlines Airbus A320 taking off from Tel Aviv’s Ben-Gurion International Airport and landing at Bahrain International Airport after a nearly three-hour flight, Gulf Business reports citing flight data.
Both countries have not confirmed the flight. The move however occurred a day after Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa held a telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The two leaders, Gulf Business reports, reviewed potential areas of bilateral cooperation and relevant regional and international developments and the Bahraini Crown Prince highlighted the importance of securing regional and international stability and enhancing efforts to support peace in the region.
The Gulf country and Israel on September 15 officially established full cooperation. Bahrain become the fourth Arab country to behind, Egypt, Jordan and UAE to normalize ties with Israel.
UAE also on August 31 received at Abu Dhabi airport the first-ever direct commercial flight from Israel to the UAE – El Al flight 971, in connection with normalization agreement announced on August 13.
Bahrain welcomes first Israeli direct flight since normalization
