Morocco to reopen liaison office in Israel

A Moroccan delegation is visiting Israel to reopen a liaison office in Israel, a source familiar with the file told AFP.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Moroccan “technical” team arrived on Sunday, just days after the Kingdom of Morocco and Israel signed a US-sponsored declaration of cooperation in Rabat. He added that the team is expected to remain in Israel for a few days, to be followed at a later time by a larger delegation, without providing further details.

Morocco is the fourth Arab country this year to sign an agreement with Israel, sponsored by the United States.

On Tuesday, the two countries signed four bilateral agreements that focused on direct flights, water management, exempting citizens of both countries from visas and encouraging investment and trade between the two countries. The two countries are also scheduled to open diplomatic representation offices.

And on Friday, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the latter had invited Moroccan King Mohammed VI to visit Israel during telephone conversations.

In 2000, Morocco closed a liaison office in Tel Aviv at the beginning of the second Palestinian intifada.

Morocco has the largest Jewish community in North Africa, with about 3,000 people, while some 700,000 Jews of Moroccan origin live in Israel.