Israel and Morocco Formalize Diplomatic Relations
Israel and Morocco reached an agreement to exchange ambassadors and open full embassies during a meeting with U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, in New York. This development comes six years after Morocco became part of the Abraham Accords, an initiative by President Donald Trump aimed at normalizing relations between Israel and the Arab world.
The new accord was signed just one day after the sixth anniversary of the Abraham Accords being initiated by Israel, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) back in 2020, with Morocco joining the agreement three months later.
Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita participated in the signing with Waltz and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar. Under this agreement, Israel and Morocco will upgrade their diplomatic presence from consulates to full embassies and will also exchange ambassadors. In addition, they plan to reinstigate direct flights by the end of the year and enhance collaboration in trade and finance.
Moreover, the United States reaffirmed its support for Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, a development welcomed by the Moroccan government. Morocco currently governs around 80 percent of the disputed region, with the remainder under the control of separatist movements seeking further autonomy from Morocco.
Morocco has introduced an “autonomy plan” aimed at resolving the Western Sahara issue, suggesting the establishment of an autonomous region while retaining Moroccan sovereignty. This proposal has garnered significant international backing, including a supportive UN resolution in November 2025.
A joint statement from the U.S., Israel, and Morocco described the establishment of full diplomatic relations as beneficial for both nations and a step toward advancing peace.
Israel’s UN ambassador, Danny Danon, expressed congratulations to all involved, highlighting that this marks an important advancement in diplomatic relations between Israel and Morocco. He noted that this week, ambassadors from the U.S., UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Kazakhstan commemorated six years since the Abraham Accords were signed. Danon emphasized the commitment to strengthening ties through tangible actions, not mere statements.
Ambassador Waltz reiterated that the Abraham Accords are transforming the Middle East by replacing old grievances with new economic opportunities.
Foreign Minister Sa’ar remarked on the deep historical ties between Moroccan and Jewish communities, stating that the agreement includes practical measures to enhance relations between the two countries for mutual benefit.
In a separate discussion, Waltz addressed the recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, suggesting these might prompt the Saudis to consider joining the Abraham Accords, a pivotal aim of the initiative. He criticized the Houthis, calling their actions a form of terrorism unacceptable to the region. Waltz stressed the importance of keeping trade routes and international waterways open, referring to the Houthis’ attempts to gain control over Yemen’s coastline and disrupt the Red Sea.
While Saudi Arabia has shown interest in joining the Abraham Accords, they maintain that they will only proceed once there is a defined path to Palestinian statehood. Ynet News recently speculated that the Houthi attacks might change Saudi Arabia’s hesitance toward formalizing an alliance with Israel, suggesting that Israel has been offering informal intelligence assistance to help the Saudis against the Houthi insurgency.
This speculation includes the notion that President Trump may have positioned membership in the Abraham Accords as a condition for U.S. military support to Saudi Arabia, particularly as their forces faced challenges against the Houthis. Other countries, like Egypt, Pakistan, and Turkey, also declined assistance when requested by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, leading to speculation about the factors influencing U.S. military aid decisions at the time.
