Morocco's foreign minister invites Israeli officials to visit Rabat

Morocco's foreign minister invites Israeli officials to visit Rabat
Morocco's foreign minister praised his country's ties with Israel nearly a year after they normalised relations, inviting Israeli ministers to visit Rabat.
1 min read
18 September, 2021
Bourita invited Israeli officials to visit Rabat, in particular the economy and war ministers [Getty]

Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita said on Friday that Rabat was waiting for Israeli officials to make important visits to his country, including the Israeli ministers of economy and war.

“The diplomatic missions between Morocco and Israel have already begun work, after my friend (Israeli Foreign Minister) Yair Lapid visited Rabat last month,” he said Bourita.

His comments came during a virtual meeting to commemorate the first anniversary since Israel normalised its relations with several Arab countries.

Friday's videocall meeting brought together Bourita with his American, Israeli, Emirati and Bahraini counterparts.

"The normalisation of relations with Israel is indeed a historic event worth celebrating, it has fostered new hope and paved the way for unprecedented momentum," Bourita said.

He added that channels were opened between business communities in both countries, through establishing a Moroccan Israeli business council and also a joint chamber of industry.

Morocco and Israel officially normalised ties in December last year, following similar US-mediated deals with the UAE, Bahrain and Sudan known as the Abraham Accords.

Then-president Donald Trump had promised Morocco that the US would recognise Rabat’s sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara territory.

The Arab states' normalisation moves were universally condemned by Palestinian factions and triggered protests around the world.