Bahrain Collaborates with Israel on Water Management, Agriculture, and Medical Technologies

The Bahraini ambassador to Israel stated on Thursday, September 7, that the country intends to enhance cooperation with Israel in technologies that aid water management and combat climate change. According to Reuters, Khalid Yusuf Alajlahmeh mentioned at a conference related to startups in Tel Aviv that this collaboration will not happen overnight. His remarks were made on the occasion of the third anniversary of the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between the UAE, Bahrain, and Israel. The Bahraini ambassador also noted that some have issues with coming to Israel, and Israelis primarily consider Dubai and Abu Dhabi before Bahrain. On Monday, September 4, Israel opened its embassy in Bahrain. Officials from both countries have agreed to increase direct flights, tourism, trade volume, and investment. The Israeli Securities Authority recently signed an agreement regarding financial technologies with the Central Bank of Bahrain. The Bahraini ambassador emphasized the importance of agricultural technologies in cooperation with Israel, stating that this area is very significant for Bahrain. He pointed out that Bahrain seeks to benefit from technologies related to reducing carbon emissions in the air. Khalid Yusuf Alajlahmeh also referred to medical collaborations, stating that his country is working with the Sheba Medical Center in Israel, where Bahraini doctors will work, and Sheba intends to open an innovation center in Bahrain. According to the report, 600 Israeli and Bahraini companies have recently connected, and there is a project to employ Bahraini workers to take advantage of job opportunities in Israel's rapidly growing high-tech sector. Bahrain, along with the UAE, signed an agreement to establish official relations with Israel in September 2020, mediated by the United States, known as the Abraham Accords. Reuters reported that the UAE has thus far benefited the most from these relations, with many Israelis traveling to Dubai, and bilateral trade between Israel and the UAE increasing to over $2.5 billion in 2022, reaching $1.85 billion in the first seven months of 2023. Trade between Israel and Bahrain in the first seven months of this year was only $8.5 million. The Israeli Foreign Minister's visit to Bahrain; the commander of the U.S. Fifth Fleet met with Eli Cohen. Israel opened its embassy in Bahrain. The U.S. denied an agreement with Saudi Arabia regarding a 'framework' for normalizing relations with Israel. Israel gave the green light to Saudi Arabia; we have no problem with uranium enrichment in Saudi Arabia. A bipartisan proposal in the U.S. Congress aims to increase support for the Abraham Accords and the Negev Forum.