Israel and Morocco Agree to Dramatic Upgrade in Diplomatic Ties

Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi met with his Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita and U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Pompeo in New York on Wednesday to advance bilateral relations. The two nations committed to upgrading their representative offices to embassies and appointing ambassadors, expanding direct flights, and finalizing economic agreements. This move comes after a period of reduced public engagement, with no high-level Israeli official visits to Morocco since the start of 2023.

The trilateral summit reaffirmed commitments to deepen Israeli-Moroccan ties. A key agreement involves elevating diplomatic missions to full embassies and appointing ambassadors. Additionally, Israel and Morocco will finalize investment protection and double taxation agreements by the end of 2026 to facilitate mutual investments and economic cooperation.

Direct flights between the countries will be expanded to include Moroccan airlines, with implementation expected in the coming weeks. The agreement also includes a commitment to resuming high-level mutual visits in the near future, signaling an effort to restore the public dimension of the relationship that had diminished since the October 7th attacks.

Foreign Minister Ashkenazi stated, "The friendship between the Moroccan and Jewish people has deep roots and a glorious history. The declaration we signed today details practical ways to upgrade ties between Israel and Morocco for the benefit of both peoples, and we will strive for its implementation." The agreements gain significance from the recent slowdown in relations, which had seen considerable momentum following the normalization of ties in December 2020.

High-level visits, including by Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and Interior Minister Moshe Arbel in mid-2023, had been common before the war. The new commitment to reciprocal visits aims to re-energize the public aspect of the relationship. The summit in New York followed a U.S. event celebrating the Abraham Accords, with Israel thanking the U.S. for its role in facilitating the summit and strengthening ties with Morocco. The focus now shifts to implementing these agreements, particularly the embassy upgrades and ambassadorial appointments.