Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi said today he hopes that mutual Israeli and Bahraini embassies will be inaugurated by the end of the year. Ashkenazi also announced that as of Dec. 1, Bahraini citizens will be able to apply online for a visa to visit Israel, noting that direct flights between the two countries will begin soon.

Gulf Air flight GF972 from Manama to Tel Aviv landed at the Ben Gurion airport at 10:30 a.m. local time. It was the first commercial non-stop flight between the two countries and the first ministerial visit from Bahrain to Israel. Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani lead a large official delegation including a deputy foreign minister, the head of Bahrain’s civil aviation and some journalists. He was also accompanied by a senior US delegation headed by the outgoing administration’s Middle East envoy Avi Berkowitz. Honoring both senior guests upon landing, Israeli, Bahrain and American flags were posted on the tarmac, alongside a red carpet.

Ashkenazi tweeted in the early morning in both English and Arabic, "This is a good morning indeed. Will be shortly on my way to the airport to welcome my friends and partners." Welcoming Zayani at the airport, the Israeli minister told him that the whole country was excited for the “historic visit." He then tweeted, "I am looking forward to our discussions today and to the new era of peace, security and stability in the region that this visit marks."

At a joint press conference with Zayani, Ashkenazi warmly greeted his counterpart on his first visit to Israel, welcoming him with "Salaam alaikum, my friend."