This historic milestone has led to the creation of bridges between an Arab country belonging to the Maghreb and the Hebrew country

Morocco and Israel celebrate one year of diplomatic rapprochement

photo_camera FOTO/ARCHIVE - Israeli and Moroccan flags

Morocco, Israel and the United States are at the forefront of a new diplomatic stage in the Maghreb. The triple alliance marks one year since it was signed in Rabat, giving rise to a tripartite agreement between Moroccan, American and Israeli representatives.

This historic milestone, influenced by the Abraham Accords, has led to the creation of bridges between an Arab country, belonging to the Maghreb area, and the Hebrew country. The signing of the agreement, backed by King Mohammed VI, marked the beginning of the restoration of diplomatic relations that had been damaged after two decades of misunderstandings.

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Former President Donald Trump announced this new rapprochement with then Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu through a social network that became his primary means of diffusion: Twitter. Furthermore, the restoration of these relations, a rapprochement that would favour cooperation in security, trade and military matters, would be in exchange for the United States fulfilling its part and recognising Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara.

Both Washington's recognition and the re-establishment of relations between Morocco and Israel initiated a new geopolitical situation that significantly influenced the configuration of a new scenario in the region. The consequences of this new order were not long in coming, and in just one year we have witnessed a series of diplomatic and cooperation meetings of particular relevance.

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In this regard, Rabat has had an intense agenda of cooperation with Tel Aviv, particularly in the areas of security and intelligence. Even after the second intifada, a time when Morocco and Israel did not maintain regular relations, the two countries continued to cooperate in these two areas, which are crucial to maintaining stability in the region.

This year of friendship between Israel and Morocco has also been facilitated by the strong social and cultural ties that unite the two countries. The Sephardic community in Morocco continues to play an important role in the country's cultural and social influence. Its presence has also influenced an increase in Israeli tourism to the country, who wish to discover the cultural links between their culture and Morocco.

An "unprecedented" security agreement

In the new political era, with Joe Biden as President of the United States and Naftali Bennet as Israel's new minister and Aziz Ajanouch as Prime Minister of the Alawite kingdom, relations between Morocco and Israel have  grown. Just a month ago, Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz travelled to Rabat to sign a historic military agreement.

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In this pact, Morocco received the Israeli defence system known as the 'Iron Dome' and other high-tech defence systems, which translates into greater Israeli influence in Morocco and the strengthening of Moroccan security and defence.

This trip was the first by an Israeli minister to Morocco, an exercise charged with symbolism for all that its transfer entailed. In this regard, the Moroccan Foreign Minister, Nasser Bourita, pointed out that this agreement "would allow Israeli exports to Morocco" in fields that go beyond arms, such as cybersecurity. It is in this field that Israel maintains an important power, even having a "cybersecurity capital" in the middle of the desert, the city of Beer Sheva.

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Moreover, the Israeli Minister of Economy, Orna Barbivai, is expected to travel to Morocco in 2022, according to David Grovin, who underlined that her visit should "constitute an important stage that will be marked by the signing of a major economic agreement".

Opening of embassies

With the visit of Israel's foreign minister, Yair Lapid, inaugurating the reopening of Israel's representative office in the kingdom, which had been closed during the Second Intifada in 2000. 

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During his visit to Morocco, Yair Lapid also said that the two countries would 'upgrade their diplomatic representation to the status of embassies'. This would extend Israel's 'circle of Arab allies' in the region, which would result in a significant normalisation of diplomatic relations between different Arab countries and Israel.

Although Morocco closely follows the Palestinian issue, the kingdom has extended its hand to Israel, understanding the importance of diplomacy in maintaining peace in a region that seeks to establish peace across differences.


 

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