Israel and Morocco on Thursday evening announced that they would be normalising diplomatic relations, in a deal brokered by the US.
This agreement makes Morocco the fourth Arab country to normalise ties with Israel in the past four months, following the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Sudan.
Along with Egypt and Jordan, Morocco becomes the sixth Arab League member to normalise ties with Israel.
CFI Parliamentary Chairmen Rt. Hon. Stephen Crabb MP and Rt. Hon. The Lord Pickles and CFI Honorary President Lord Polak CBE welcomed the news: “The announcement of normalised relations between Israel and the Kingdom of Morocco is another landmark moment and the latest evidence of a rapidly changing region”.
They added: “We once again celebrate the accelerating movement for peace and call on the UK to be at the centre of efforts to bring about a future of shared prosperity for the region. As Jews throughout the world celebrate the first night of a Chanukah, the announcement of peace will light up the darkness even further”.
Middle East Minister James Cleverly also welcomed the agreement as “a positive step between two valued partners of the UK”.
US President Donald Trump sealed the Israel-Morocco agreement in a phone call with Morocco’s King Mohammed VI on Thursday, the White House said.
The deal includes the reopening of liaison offices in Tel Aviv and Rabat – shut in 2000 when relations broke down after the outbreak of the Palestinian uprising – and the eventual opening of embassies. Officials said Morocco would grant direct flights to and from Israel for all Israelis.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement: “This will be a very warm peace. Peace has never – the light of peace on this Hanukkah day has never – shone brighter than today in the Middle East”.
