Los ministros de Cooperación Regional y Justicia de Israel visitan Marruecos
Morocco and Israel continue on the path of cooperation and understanding. Since the two countries re-established relations, the bilateral partnership has extended to various sectors, such as trade, security and defence.
In this context of collaboration and with the aim of further strengthening ties in other areas, the Israeli Ministers of Regional Cooperation and Justice - Issawi Frej and Gideon Sa'ar, respectively - are travelling to Morocco. Frej will arrive in the Kingdom today, while Sa'ar will begin his official visit tomorrow, Monday.
????| Deux ministres israéliens, Issawi Frej, un arabe et musulman israélien, et le vice-Premier ministre en charge de la Justice, Gideon Saar, sont attendus dimanche et lundi au Maroc, une confirmation des liens francs et solides entre les deux nations. pic.twitter.com/4ypqqGgRWS
— Le360 (@Le360fr) July 23, 2022
As reported by the media outlet i24 News, Frej - an Israeli of Palestinian origin - will stay in Morocco from 24 to 28 July. The Minister of Regional Cooperation and former deputy of the left-wing Meretz party will arrive accompanied by a delegation of Jewish and Arab journalists as part of a regional forum set up with the aim of "strengthening the voice of women in the media". The event, to be held in Casablanca, will also include a delegation from the United Arab Emirates.
According to Frej in a press release, Morocco represents "a model of coexistence between people of different religions". He also said he was travelling to the Kingdom to "develop common initiatives in the fields of culture, communication and sport".
Frej will meet with the Moroccan Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, Abdellatif Miraoui, with whom he will explore educational cooperation through a student exchange scholarship programme, according to The Jerusalem Post. The newspaper also notes that Frej will be the first senior Israeli official to visit Essaouira, a city with an important Jewish heritage on the Moroccan coast.
Meanwhile, Sa'ar's four-day visit will focus on legal cooperation between the two countries, an unprecedented partnership since the restoration of relations. According to i24 News, Morocco and Israel are expected to sign an agreement on collaboration in the legal and juridical field.
These two visits come shortly after Aviv Kochavi, the Israeli army chief of staff, travelled to the Kingdom to boost military cooperation. Earlier, Defence Minister Benny Gantz signed a memorandum of understanding in Morocco for a bilateral security partnership.
Kochavi has become the first Israel Defence Forces (IDF) chief to visit Morocco. During his trip, in addition to deepening the defence partnership, he visited La Mellah - the Jewish quarter of Marrakech - the Jewish cemetery and the Salat Alzama synagogue. He also had the opportunity to talk with members of the country's Jewish community.
