Israel and Morocco reached a historic agreement on Wednesday to elevate their diplomatic relations to the level of embassies and exchange ambassadors. This agreement was signed nearly six years after the two countries renewed diplomatic relations under a normalization agreement supported by the United States.
Details of the Agreement in New York
The agreement was signed during a meeting in New York ahead of the United Nations General Assembly. In this meeting, attended by Mike Waltz, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Gideon Sa'ar, Israel's Foreign Minister, and Nasser Bourita, Morocco's Foreign Minister, the parties emphasized the importance of deepening diplomatic relations.
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History of Israel-Morocco Relations
The normalization agreement between Israel and Morocco was announced in December 2020, coinciding with the U.S. decision to recognize Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara. Morocco had previously established lower-level diplomatic relations with Israel in 1994, but these relations were suspended in 2000 following the Second Intifada in the West Bank and Gaza. The two countries reestablished relations in 2020, but the level of representation remained at a communication level.
This agreement also mentions finalizing "agreements related to investment protection and avoidance of double taxation" as well as "necessary measures for the rapid resumption of direct flights between Morocco and Israel." These actions are expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
Direct commercial flights between Morocco and Israel have been limited in recent years. The Moroccan national airline, Royal Air Maroc, suspended its direct services from Casablanca to Tel Aviv following Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Meanwhile, Israeli airlines continue to operate some direct flights to Morocco, including seasonal services.
In a statement released after this agreement, all three countries emphasized the "recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over all of Western Sahara" and also supported Morocco's "serious, credible, and realistic autonomy proposal." Western Sahara has been disputed since Spain withdrew from the territory in 1975.
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