For years, E., a senior Foreign Ministry official, was sent to secret meetings in Bahrain to build the infrastructure of economic relations with the kingdom • Today, in the White House, he will enjoy the fruits of the effort • "It is possible to build a common language"
Even on the day the peace treaty was signed with Bahrain, it is still impossible to reveal all the details of E.'s secret mission to the kingdom.
Archive photo: From the official Twitter account of the US President
Ten years after he was sent by senior Foreign Ministry officials to build the foundations of the relationship between Israel and Bahrain, A. looks back with satisfaction and excitement: "Bahrain's willingness to make relations with Israel visible and official is a huge step on their part. "Visible, intended for this very day. We collected grain for grain. Things did not always go easily and not every problem had a solution. But the whole essence of the Foreign Ministry is to build diplomatic ties and here we come at a moment. It is exciting," says E., who is still in a sensitive position. Avoid revealing his name.
In 2010, based on experience with other Gulf states, and after the State Department identified the willingness of several Manama administration officials to cooperate, the task was assigned to E.C.
He first met with representatives of the kingdom in third countries, but soon began frequent visits to the country itself.
In all, there have been dozens of secret visits in the years he has held the post, when the authorities in Bahrain knew what his role was and who he represented.
"The goal was to promote business and commercial relationships to create a basis for trust. We were aiming for that and building relationships with mutual benefit," says E.
The conversations did yield benefits.
Government delegations in Bahrain have made reciprocal visits to Israel over the years, albeit in smaller numbers than those of E.
The bottom line result was economic and business agreements that in turn strengthened trust.
One moment of the conversations that A. has will take with him forever.
"It happened at the very beginning of the process, when my interlocutor told me that he had seen a picture of an Air Force plane over the Auschwitz extermination camp. He told me when he saw this picture and understood what it means for our people, and how exciting it is - perceive the existential anxiety we are in. "The second he said that, I realized that despite all the gaps, it is possible to find common understanding and language, as it did."
