Bahrain journalist appears on Israeli TV in latest sign of 'normalisation'

A Bahraini journalist has appeared on Israeli television to speak about mutual fears over Iran, in the latest sign the Gulf state could normalise relations with Israel.

Abdullah al-Junaid, who writes for the UAE-based Sky News Arabia and Saudi Makkah newspaper, gave the video-call interview to Channel 10 on Wednesday.

"Sir, we communicate with the whole world and that pleases us," Junaid said at the start of the conversation on Tehran.

"Iran has a political project, which is a cover for its political and geographic expansionist project. We want the world to understand what it is doing,"

"Iran poses a direct threat to Israel's national security, as well as to ours," he added.

Like Israel, most Gulf states including Saudi Arabia prioritise curbing Iran's regional influence.

Junaid also spoke about Bahrain's tiny Jewish minority, which numbers in the dozens.

"We have Jewish citizens living in Bahrain," he said, adding "We have one identity card and religious belief is a personal matter. Jewish Bahrainis are part of the culture of the country."

The appearance comes amid speculation that Bahrain could become the first Gulf states to normalise relations with Israel.

Last month, Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa reportedly said he has grown "tired" of Arab states' boycott of Israel and called for diplomatic ties to be established with Israel.

He also told a leading US-based rabbi that Bahraini citizens were free to visit Israel.

Israel's ministry of foreign affairs tweeted in support of the unofficial report, before swiftly deleting the praise.

Last year, Bahrain hosted a delegation of US Jews at a ceremony to mark the Jewish Hanukkah holiday.

A video of the event - taken by an attendee - circulated widely on social media as it showed Bahraini men in local kaffiyeh attire attending the party with Orthodox Jews.

On Sunday, Saudi Arabia denied that any of its officials had visited Israel, after Israeli media reported that a senior prince had made a secret diplomatic trip there.

Israeli radio last month reported that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had secretly met officials in Israel.