Israel and Morocco Upgrade Diplomatic Relations
On Wednesday, Israel and Morocco decided to elevate their diplomatic presence by transforming their liaison offices into full embassies and exchanging ambassadors. This agreement came during a U.S.-supported meeting in New York, where the countries emphasized their commitment to the “spirit of the Abraham Accords.” This comes six years after former President Donald Trump facilitated the original normalization agreements.
The agreement was reached between Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita during a trilateral discussion led by U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz. The three nations expressed their determination to face regional challenges and build upon the normalization deal established in December 2020.
Sa’ar remarked that the Abraham Accords demonstrated that barriers could be dismantled and introduced a new approach to regional relations, focusing on peace and partnerships that benefit all involved. He credited Trump for reshaping the region’s diplomatic interactions.
“President Trump’s vision changed the Middle East,” Sa’ar noted, reinforcing the sentiment that these diplomatic changes would have a lasting impact.
In their joint statement, the countries outlined that they would not only elevate their diplomatic missions but also aim to resume direct flights between both nations by year’s end, with services offered by both Moroccan and Israeli airlines. Additionally, they agreed to finalize bilateral investment agreements and measures to avoid double taxation by the end of 2026 and prioritize high-level visits in the coming months. Cooperation is set to expand across various sectors, including trade, technology, security, energy, and agriculture.
The U.S., Israel, and Morocco view these developments as steps toward deeper regional integration anchored in the Abraham Accords. They believe that enhanced relations will “advance the cause of peace and unlock new opportunities for the entire region.”
The acknowledgment of the U.S. and Trump’s roles featured prominently in their statements, with both countries describing Trump as a “visionary leader” capable of achieving peace where others have failed.
This diplomatic upgrade follows Waltz’s hosting of officials from Abraham Accords countries the previous day to commemorate six years since Trump’s original signing of the agreements at the White House.
The Abraham Accords initially established normalization between Israel and the UAE and Bahrain in 2020. Morocco later reestablished its relations with Israel, while Sudan also joined the normalization efforts. Trump has continued to advocate for the expansion of these agreements, suggesting that more Arab countries might join, especially as existing relations remain intact amid conflicts in the region.
“You see, even during times of conflict, nobody backed out. Nobody said, ‘Oh, I’m going to drop out,’” Trump remarked, emphasizing his belief in the future expansion of the Accords.
Interestingly, Kazakhstan recently formalized its participation in the Accords and attended the sixth-anniversary event with representatives from Israel, Morocco, the UAE, and Bahrain.
The declaration on Wednesday reaffirmed a central aspect of the 2020 agreement: the U.S. and Israel recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over the Western Sahara territory and supported its autonomy proposal regarding the long-standing dispute there. It also acknowledged Morocco’s historical ties with Jewish communities, underlining the special connections between the Moroccan monarchy and Moroccan Jews worldwide.
Sa’ar pointed out that “The friendship between the Moroccan people and the Jewish people has deep roots and a glorious history,” indicating a desire to further enhance ties. He concluded by stating that the declaration outlines specific ways to strengthen relations between Israel and Morocco for the mutual benefit of both nations.
“And we will work to implement it,” he added, emphasizing the commitment to this renewed partnership.
