[ad_1]
After the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan, Morocco now also wants to normalize relations with Israel, according to current US President Donald Trump. Trump announced this on Twitter and spoke of a “historic breakthrough.”
“Our two great friends Israel and the Kingdom of Morocco have agreed to full diplomatic relations, a breakthrough for peace in the Middle East!” Trump continued.
After the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians began, Israel and Morocco had begun to normalize their relations as early as 1994. The two countries established liaison offices and also deepened their economic ties.
After the outbreak of the second Palestinian uprising, known as the Intifada, Morocco froze relations with Israel 20 years ago. Until the start of the corona pandemic, thousands of Israeli tourists visited Morocco every year.
Netanyahu says the deal was a success
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the normalization of diplomatic relations with Morocco as a great success. “The light of peace in the Middle East has never shone brighter than today,” Netanyahu said at the start of the Jewish festival of lights, Hanukkah.
Both countries wanted to re-establish liaison offices shortly. After that, the establishment of full diplomatic relations is planned. There should also be direct flights between Israel and Morocco.
US recognizes controversial Western Sahara region
The White House announced that Trump was speaking with King Mohammed VI of Morocco. they have called. In the conversation, the king promised to resume diplomatic relations between Morocco and Israel, a spokesman said.
Trump also declared on Twitter that the United States would recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara. The president also justified this, at least in part, historically: Morocco recognized the United States in 1777, so it was only fitting that the United States now recognize Morocco’s sovereignty in Western Sahara, Trump wrote on Twitter. Western Sahara is a sparsely populated region on the Atlantic coast of North Africa.
The area was a Spanish colony until 1975. Morocco controls much of neighboring Western Sahara, but this is not recognized internationally. In the region, the Polisario liberation movement, backed by Algeria, has fought for independence for decades. The Moroccan government only wants to grant autonomy to the region. There has not yet been a referendum on this issue.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and, more recently, Sudan had previously reached similar agreements with Israel through the mediation of the United States government. His critics also showed Trump respect for mediation. Trump had repeatedly said that other states would want to follow suit.
Trump does not have much time for new attempts at mediation: the Republican lost to Democrat Joe Biden in the presidential election in early November. Biden will take office on January 20.
