Israeli President receives Foreign Minister, lauds HM King's courageous stances

Tel Aviv, Nov. 18 (BNA): President of the State of Israel, Reuven Rivlin, received today Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Abdellatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, and his accompanying delegation, on the occasion of his visit to Tel Aviv. The Israeli President welcomed the Bahraini delegation, describing the visit as a historical beginning for joint cooperation between both countries. He said the visit will usher in a new phase in the Middle East to promote peace and security. He praised the courageous stances of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and his adoption of a unique vision to achieve peace and coexistence in the region. He also underscored Israel’s keenness on enhancing cooperation with the Kingdom of Bahrain and carrying out joint projects. He stressed that the success of the visit serves as an impetus to repeat it to achieve common aspirations and boost regional stability. The Israeli President pointed out the specificity of the Bahraini society, describing it as cohesive and characterised by religious tolerance and coexistence between all communities, including the Jewish one. He stressed that this unique texture constitutes an important and influential factor for the success of any rapprochement and building relations with other countries. He wished the Bahraini-Israeli relations further success in various fields. For his part, the Minister of Foreign Affairs conveyed the greetings and appreciation of HM the King and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and Prime Minister, to the Israeli President. He stressed that the kingdom’s approach is based on commitment to peace as a strategic alternative to launch initiatives to promote international cooperation, stability and peace as well as prosperity in the Middle East. The Minister of Foreign Affairs affirmed that the Kingdom of Bahrain has taken a courageous step through the Declaration of Peace with the State of Israel, under the support of the USA. He added that this step will contribute to working out a just and comprehensive solution, according to the international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative, to safeguard the rights of the Palestinian people. He also underscored the importance of the Bahraini delegation’s first visit to Israel in boosting bilateral relations in various fields.