Israel's Herzog Begins Historic Visit to Bahrain Amid Protests

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has begun his historic visit to Bahrain on Sunday, when he became the first Israeli head of state to visit the Gulf nation.

Herzog was welcomed by Bahraini Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and later met with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

"Your majesty, thank you for this warm reception. This is a huge moment, and I'm honored to visit the kingdom of Bahrain," Herzog said following the meeting.

The President's visit is taking place under intense security following protests against the Israeli leader over the past days. Israeli officials believe that pro-Iranians are responsible for the protests against the visit.

As a result of the protests, Herzog's itinerary was changed at the last minute, though Bahraini officials said they would not allow protests to take place during the visit.

Several prominent businessmen are accompanying Herzog and will take part in a meeting with the local economic development council. The Israeli President will also meet with officials from the country's Jewish community.

On Monday, Herzog will leave Bahrain for a short visit in Abu Dhabi.

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Earlier this year, Naftali Bennett became the first Israeli Prime Minister to visit Bahrain, following the normalization agreement signed between the two countries in 2020.