Israeli president lands in Bahrain for first ever state visit by Jewish leader

Israeli President Isaac Herzog arrived in Bahrain on December 4, making it the first visit of an Israeli leader to the Persian Gulf country. 

As the Times of Israel reported, the two-day trip follows the two countries' establishment of diplomatic relations in 2020. Herzog will continue traveling to the United Arab Emirates, with whom Israel started its diplomatic cooperation in the same year as with Bahrain. 

"This is a new and historic step in relations between Israel and the Arab countries, signatories to the Abrahamic Accords, with the hope that new and new countries will join the circle of peace with the State of Israel", Herzog said before his departure.

The Israeli president will be met in the capital Manama by Bahraini Foreign Minister Abd al-Latif Rashid al-Zayani.

He will then travel to the royal palace, where he will meet King Hamad Ibn Isa al-Khalifa, and in the afternoon meet representatives of the local Jewish community. Following those, he is scheduled to attend a meeting with Bahrain's economic development organization.