Eitan Na'eh, who served as Israel's first ambassador to Bahrain following the signing of the Abraham Accords, passed away on Monday, aged 62.
Na'eh served in the ambassadorial post from December 2021 until November 2023.
Na'eh's tenure as ambassador ended in the aftermath of the October 7 massacre and the start of the Israel-Hamas War. A Bahraini parliamentary statement at the time insinuated that his term ended directly because of the conflict.
The Bahraini authorities, on November 2, 2023, commented that Na'eh had left Manama and "returned home a while ago."
Na'eh also served as the initial head of Israel's mission to Abu Dhabi from January to October 2021.
Na'eh, as recently as January 9, was posting on X/Twitter about ongoing tensions in Iran, and reports that Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammag Bagher Ghalibaf was attempting to seek refuge in France.
The previous week, he shared footage of the emotional interview former hostage Romi Gonen gave to Channel 12's "Uvda" program about her experiences in Hamas's terror captivity.
Na'eh eulogized as diplomatic with decades of 'devoted service' for Israel
Na'eh had also served as ambassador to Azerbaijan and Turkey, as well as 35 years of "devoted service" for the Foreign Ministry, Gideon Sa'ar eulogized on X.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid, who was the official who appointed Na'eh as the first ambassador to Bahrain, wrote that he shared in the family's grief, and commented that Na'eh "served Israel devotedly for over 35 years."
Reuters contributed to this report.