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Netanyahu excludes Gantz from triumphant trip to Washington

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's crowded Washington entourage included everyone but Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkanzi.
A road is decorated with the flags of (L-R) the US, the United Arab Emirates, Israel and Bahrain, in the resort city of Netanya in central Israel, on September 13, 2020. - The UAE and Bahrain will sign agreements to recognise Israel, on September 15.
US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are to sign the Abraham accords -- a reference to the common traditions of Islam, Judaism and Christianity -- at a White House ceremony. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP v

historic phone call took place on Sept. 12 between Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi and his counterpart from Bahrain, Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani. Unfortunately, the event was overshadowed by the drama and tempests surrounding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Ashkenazi tweeted about the exciting conversation, saying he and the Bahraini foreign minister would remain in contact with the goal of deepening diplomatic relations in the Middle East. The day before, Netanyahu had announced that Bahrain would be joining the United Arab Emirates in normalizing ties with Israel.

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