Israel targeting Bahrain, UAE for projects to attract tourists from Asia

Israel is reportedly working with Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates to attract tourists to their countries from elsewhere in Asia.

Israeli tourism minister Haim Katz embarked on an official visit to Bahrain on Tuesday, making him the first minister to visit the Gulf state on behalf of the current right-wing government led by Benjamin Netanyahu.

The visit was made to strengthen tourism ties and make the Middle East a tourist destination for the rest of Asia, Israeli media reported.

It took place amid an uptick in Israeli violence in the occupied West Bank, with at least 11 Palestinians being killed by Israeli forces and settlers since Monday.

"We will work to realise the potential to turn the Middle East into a leading tourist region in the Asian market and in other distant destinations. Together, we will offer a rich tourist experience. History alongside modernisation, culture and fine cuisine," Israeli media quoted Katz as saying.

Katz was accompanied on the visit by senior tourism sector figures.

He also met with Bahrain's finance minister to discuss "bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector" and "the latest developments in the international tourism sector", Bahraini state media reported Wednesday.

Tourism packages whose itineraries include all three countries have been proposed, according to Israeli media reports.

Israel normalised ties with both Bahrain and the UAE in 2020, through the controversial US-brokered Abraham Accords.

The agreement - which also includes Morocco - was met with anger from Palestinians and their supporters, who pointed out that it rewarded Israel while it continued to occupy the West Bank and besiege the Gaza Strip.

Israel has bolstered ties with both Bahrain and the UAE in a variety of fields in deals collectively worth billions of dollars.

There are regular direct flights operating between the two Gulf countries and Israel, meant to make commercial ties easier and entice tourists — though the volume of tourists visiting Israel from the Gulf has reportedly been small.

At least several hundred Israelis have taken up residence in the UAE since the normalisation deal was reached, however.

Katz has yet to visit the UAE.