Bahrain’s ambassador to Israel, Khaled Yousif Al-Jalahma, visited ITEC for a two hour working meeting at its Ramat Hasharon center on June 23rd.
Al-Jalahma’s visit is the first ever for any foreign ambassador in Israel.
The unprecedented visit of an Arab Ambassador featured ITEC’s unique excellence, equality and leadership based tennis system which the Ambassador requested be presented to Bahrain׳s Tennis Association in order to advance a collaborative relationship between the Israel and Bahrain, the small Muslim majority nation state neighboring Iran.
Ambassador Al-Jalahma was hosted by senior ITEC staff and leadership led by Chief Executive Erez Vider, Int’l Vice Chairman Dan Diker, Wimbledon Champion Andy Ram – head of ITEC’s championship academy, and Ronen Morali , Head of ITEC Tennis lovers programs and Israel’s Federation Cup coach.
The historic visit was coordinated by Alam Ibrahim , ITEC Israeli Arab community Liason and Manager of ITEC’s Sajur center, who welcomed and briefed the Bahraini Ambassador in his native Arabic.
Special guest Lorena Khateeb, manager of Arab language Digital communication at Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was also on hand to brief Ambassador Al-Jalahma.
Al-Jalama:
- There is no limit to the fields in which Israel and Bahrain can build common bridges on which to walk together“.
- “We must strengthen the ties between the countries through people to people initiatives”.
- “The Israeli Arabs today have now the opportunity to experience a new Arab culture they have not known”.
- “During the past years, Israel and Bahrain have looked past one another, and thanks to the new relations between the countries we will be able to find new ways to connect and strengthen the relations between us, in order to turn the middle east into a better place“.
The ambassador invited an ITEC delegation to visit Bahrain and recommended sending a delegation of junior tennis players from Bahrain to train at ITEC.