The Moroccan government and the Israeli prime minister's office made statements regarding Israel having officially recognized Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed territory of Western Sahara, Al Jazeera reports.
This recognition was conveyed in a letter from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to King Mohammed VI of Morocco, with Israel also considering the opening of a consulate in Dakhla.
Since 1975, Morocco has maintained control over Western Sahara, but international recognition of its sovereignty has been limited. The Algerian-backed Polisario Front, on the other hand, advocates for an independent state in the region. In 2020, then-US President Donald Trump recognized Morocco's claim to the territory as part of an agreement that also involved Morocco upgrading its relations with Israel.
The Moroccan royal palace stated that Israel's position on Western Sahara will be communicated to the United Nations, regional and international organizations, and all the countries with which Israel has diplomatic relations. The move is seen as a boost to Morocco's position in the ongoing conflict over the territory, especially with other countries, including the US and several European capitals, expressing support for its autonomy plan.
Despite recognizing Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, Israel has stated that this decision will not alter its commitment to a two-state solution in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Moroccan government expects this recognition to encourage Israeli investment in the region, building on their normalized relations after a US-brokered deal in 2020. Morocco became the fourth country to strike a deal with Israel aimed at normalizing relations, following the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Sudan.
However, the normalization deals with Israel have been criticized by Palestinians, who argue that Arab countries' actions have weakened the push for peace by abandoning the demand for Israel to relinquish land for a Palestinian state before receiving recognition.
Despite this, the ties between Morocco and Israel have strengthened since the resumption of relations, marked by the appointment of a defense attaché to Morocco and the signing of cooperation agreements, including a defense pact.
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