Israel and Morocco agree, under American sponsorship, to raise the level of diplomatic representation
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Under American sponsorship, Israel and Morocco agreed to raise the level of diplomatic representation to the level of embassies and appoint ambassadors, terminate agreements to protect investment and prevent double taxation by the end of 2026, expand direct flights, and renew US and Israeli recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara.
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Why It Matters
This agreement comes within the framework of the development of Israeli-Moroccan relations that were launched in December 2020 within the Abrahamic Accords, as Morocco was the fourth Arab country to normalize relations with Israel after the UAE, Bahrain and Sudan, with American mediation that included recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara.
Israel and Morocco agree, under American sponsorship, to “raise the level of diplomatic representation”
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Israel announced on Wednesday evening that it had agreed with Morocco to raise the level of diplomatic representation and exchange the opening of embassies, following a meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries held in New York under American sponsorship.
A statement issued by the Israeli Foreign Ministry said: “Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar held a tripartite diplomatic summit today in New York with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, at the invitation of the US Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz.”
He added: “The three countries reaffirmed their commitment to a set of measures aimed at strengthening relations between Israel and Morocco, including raising the level of the two mutual diplomatic missions to the level of two embassies, and appointing two ambassadors.”
The statement said that the decision was taken during a “historic tripartite summit in New York” that included Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, his Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita, and US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Walts.
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, and US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz held a trilateral diplomatic summit in New York on Wednesday, agreeing on a series of measures to strengthen relations between Israel and Morocco and advance the “Abrahamic Accords.”
The three countries reaffirmed their commitment to steps that include improving the level of diplomatic relations between Israel and Morocco, raising the level of diplomatic missions on both sides to embassies, and appointing ambassadors.
Saar was also scheduled to meet Bourita separately in a direct bilateral meeting on Wednesday.
Israel and Morocco agreed to complete agreements on investment protection and the prevention of double taxation by the end of 2026. These agreements aim to facilitate mutual investments and strengthen economic and trade relations between the two countries.
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The two sides also agreed to exchange high-level visits between Israel and Morocco in the coming months.
Morocco is one of four Arab countries, along with the UAE, Bahrain and Sudan, that took steps towards normalizing relations with Israel in 2020, within the framework of agreements brokered by the United States.
The most prominent details of the agreement include:
Diplomatic representation: Converting the two current liaison offices into official embassies and appointing ambassadors as soon as possible.
Economic cooperation: Completing two agreements before the end of 2026 to protect investments and prevent double taxation to facilitate trade exchange.
Aviation sector: Expanding direct flights and operating Moroccan airlines soon.
The American and Israeli position: The United States and Israel renew their recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the territory of Western Sahara.
There has been no announcement yet from the Moroccan side on the matter.
This decision comes in the context of the development of bilateral relations that were launched in December 2020 within the Abrahamic Agreements, and cooperation with Morocco continues to witness broad political and popular interactions.
Background on the 2020 agreement
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In December 2020, Israel and Morocco announced the resumption of diplomatic relations between them, with American mediation, as part of a wave of normalization agreements concluded between Israel and a number of Arab countries during the administration of US President Donald Trump. Morocco was the fourth Arab country to announce the normalization of relations with Israel during that year, after the UAE, Bahrain, and Sudan.
The agreement came after Trump announced at the time that the United States recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara, a disputed region between Morocco and the Polisario Front, which is supported by Algeria. The American announcement linked this step to the resumption of relations between Morocco and Israel.
The joint declaration, signed by the United States, Morocco, and Israel in Rabat on December 22, 2020, stipulated the resumption of official contacts and the establishment of peaceful diplomatic relations, in addition to the reopening of the liaison offices in Morocco and Israel.
The agreement also included areas of cooperation in trade, investment, civil aviation, tourism, agriculture, water, energy and communications.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Israeli and Moroccan ambassadors will be appointed to their countries by mid-2026.
Likely · Within months
Negotiations of the investment protection and double taxation agreements will be completed before the end of 2026.
Likely · Within months
Open Questions
- When will the ambassadors be officially appointed?
- What are the finer details of investment protection and double taxation agreements?
- How will these developments affect the position of Algeria and the Polisario Front on the conflict in Western Sahara?
