Israel Recognizes Moroccan Sovereignty Over Western Sahara

Jerusalem, 18 July, 2023 (TPS) -- Israel officially recognized Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara region, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared in a letter to the kingdom’s ruler, King Mohammed VI, on Monday. It is widely believed that the recognition paves the way for Morocco to open an embassy in Israel.

The Foreign Ministry confirmed the report on Twitter. “I welcome Prime Minister Netanyahu’s announcement on the recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Western Sahara,” wrote Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, adding that the step would “strengthen the relations between the countries.”

Jerusalem’s updated position will be “reflected in all relevant acts and documents of the Israeli government,” King Mohammed VI claimed.

Israel also pledged to share its decision with “the United Nations, to regional and international organizations of which Israel is a member and to all countries with which Israel maintains diplomatic relations,” per the monarch.

Netanyahu informed Morocco that his government is mulling the opening of a consulate in the coastal city of Dakhla as part of the move, according to Morocco.

Morocco currently maintains a liaison office in Tel Aviv. The office will now likely be upgraded to embassy status.

During a visit to Rabat last month, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana supported Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara.

“Israel should move toward that goal of recognizing the Moroccan Sahara just as our closest ally the United States did,” Ohana said during a news conference in the capital. “I supported and pushed toward that goal.”

Former President Donald Trump first recognized Moroccan rule over Western Sahara in return for the kingdom’s partial upgrade of relations with the Jewish state.

The development comes on the heels of Israel appointing its first ever military attache to Morocco, Col. Sharon Itach.

Itach, who is of Moroccan descent, currently heads the IDF Home Front Command’s Haifa district, and previously led the 489th “Kedem” search and rescue battalion.

The appointment, made by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, must still be approved by Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

An estimated one million Israelis are either from Morocco or are of Moroccan descent. Approximately 3,000 Jews currently live in the North African country.

More than 200,000 Israelis visited Morocco in 2022, as coronavirus travel restrictions came to an end.