Chief of Israel's Mossad set for Bahrain after UAE visit

The Israeli spymaster will meet with officials in Bahrain, which is thought to be considering normalising ties with Israel.

MENA

1 min read

The New Arab Staff

19 August, 2020

Bahrain is thought to be considered a similar agreement with Israel [Getty]

The head of Israel's Mossad security agency will travel to Bahrain on his way back from the United Arab Emirates, Yediot Ahronot reported.

Yossi Cohen visited the UAE in the wake of last week's agreement to normalise ties between the two countries, a move that was welcomed by fellow Gulf state Bahrain.

The spy chief, thought to be the architect of the Israeli-Emirati accord, met with National Security Adviser Tahnoun bin Zayed while in Abu Dhabi to discuss "cooperation in the fields of security".

Bahrain is among a number of Arab nations considered to be next in line to break with decades of enmity and make peace with Israel. Oman and Sudan are also thought to be on the list.

Cohen reportedly spoke with Bahraini Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa over the weekend, yet another sign that a deal is in the works between the two countries.

While many ordinary citizens of the region oppose normalising ties with Israel out of solidarity with the Palestinian cause, recent years have brought increasing reports of warming ties between Israel and Gulf Arab states.