Israel and Morocco have agreed to upgrade their missions to full embassies and will exchange ambassadors after talks in New York hosted by US UN envoy Mike Waltz. Foreign ministers Gideon Saar and Nasser Bourita pledged to finalize agreements on investment protection and double taxation by year-end. The move also includes plans to restore direct flights and schedule high-level bilateral visits, announced a day after the sixth anniversary of the Abraham Accords.
Israel and Morocco Elevate Ties: Missions Upgraded to Embassies, Ambassadors To Be Exchanged
The head of the Israeli diplomatic delegation David Govrin, hanging a doorpost of the Israeli liason office in the Moroccan capital Rabat on August 12, 2021 [File: Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs/AFP]
Israel and Morocco have agreed to upgrade their diplomatic relations by elevating their missions to full embassies and appointing ambassadors to each other's countries, officials said following a meeting in New York.
The talks took place on Wednesday and were hosted by the United States ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita pledged to deepen bilateral cooperation across diplomacy, trade and transport.
Economic and Travel Steps
The two ministers committed to finalizing two key economic agreements by the end of the year: one on investment protection and another to prevent double taxation. They also agreed to expand air links, including the reinstatement of direct flights operated by carriers from both countries, and to schedule high-level reciprocal visits in the coming months.
"The establishment of full diplomatic, peaceful and friendly relations between Morocco and Israel is in the common interest of both countries and will advance the cause of peace," the United States Mission to the United Nations said in a joint statement on behalf of all three countries.
Regional Context
The announcement came a day after the sixth anniversary of the Abraham Accords, a US-brokered initiative first unveiled under former President Donald Trump. The accords have since been joined by the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan and Kazakhstan, and aim to normalize ties between Israel and a number of Arab and Muslim-majority states.
What’s next: diplomats will work to complete the investment and tax agreements this year, airlines will coordinate to restore direct services, and officials from both governments are preparing for forthcoming high-level exchanges.
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