- [Chris] Foreign Minister Yair Lapid
made the first official visit to Bahrain
by an Israeli minister sincelast year's historic signing
at the White House.
- This is a historic moment,
and a reminder that history is made
by people who know history,
people who love and respect history,
but also ready to change and make history.
- [Chris] Lapid spoke inthe capital city of Manama
to inaugurate the new Israeli embassy
and sign agreements withhis Bahraini counterpart,
Abdullatif Al-Zayani.
- The official opening of embassies,
which will symbolizediplomatic cooperation
between us, more cooperation in the fields
of tourism and technology,culture, energy,
and environmental protection.
- [Chris] Lapid said the twocountries share opportunities,
as well as threats.
- Together with our friends in the Gulf,
we are leading a bravecoalition of moderates.
A coalition that is looking forward
and creating a prosperous futureof stability and tolerance.
- [Chris] Lapid and Al-Zayani toured
the USS Pearl Harbor landing ship
and met with the US ViceAdmiral over naval forces
in the region.
Following his meeting with Al-Zayani,
Lapid tweeted that Bahrainwould open its embassy
in Israel by the end of the year.
Earlier he met with KingHamad bin Isa Al Khalifa
to thank him for the leadership
and inspiration that led to this day.
He also met with crown prince
and Prime Minster SheikSalman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
- This is a historic day.
This is not a cliche.
The Middle East is changing,
and we are learning it every day.
We learned that last year
with the signing of the Abraham Accords,
and we also learned it justa few weeks ago in Kabul.
- I don't see the embassy's importance
just as a diplomatic mission.
No, I see that foreign minister,
his Excellency YairLapid's visit to Bahrain
opening the embassy as also the start
of the warm relations amongpeople of both countries.
- [Chris] Prominent Bahraini journalist
and author Ahdeya Ahmed Al-Sayed
says even though both countries face Iran
as a common threat,
that's not what brings them together.
- What brought us togetheris that we are a community,
this is the Middle East
embracing each other, coming together.
Having relations also enables you
to fight a common enemy.
We don't need wars in the region.
We need to fight ideologies.
- [Chris] After Lapid's landing in Manama,
a Gulf Air flight departed for Tel Aviv,
initiating direct flightsbetween the countries.
Greeted with a water salute,
the pilot was Al-Sayed's husband.
- He's quite excited.
He kept on telling me
that I used to always go around Israel
but today I will land there.
I think the feelings I have
is not because he's my family
and my partner, my husband
but it's a feeling of any Bahraini
who wanted to be on that flight today
because this is how warm relations start.
- [Chris] Chris Mitchell,CBN News, Jerusalem.
