According to the head of Israel’s diplomatic mission in Morocco, two agreements were signed between Israel and Morocco on Friday.
The agreements are to expand cooperation in different fields of economy and education. As was stated by Israeli Media, the agreements worth hundreds of millions of US dollars.
As was declared in a joint statement from both nations, on Thursday Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and Israel’s National Security Advisor Meir Ben Shabbat spoke by phone.
The statement from the Israeli prime minister’s office said “they agreed to set up working groups which will work towards collaboration agreements on many areas including investments, agriculture, water, environment, tourism, science, innovation, energy and more.” It was also confirmed by the foreign ministry in Rabat.
The director of international trade at the Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Zeev Lavie also said that “Morocco looks forward to various technologies in the renewable energy fields, water treatments, agriculture, and health.”
Last Friday, Morocco’s King talked with Israeli Prime Minister, the kingdom’s news outlets reported.
During the call, the king emphasized the close and exclusive links that exist between the Moroccan monarchy and the Moroccan Jewish community.
He also reaffirmed the kingdom’s unshakable stance on the Palestinian matter, as well as its leading role in fostering Middle East peace and stability.
Netanyahu informed the king that he is absolutely committed to follow through with all promises rendered in compliance with the agreed-upon deadlines.
According to the statement, Bourita and Ben Shabbat explained the huge potential of cooperation, which will help not only Morocco and Israel, but the entire region.
Two countries signed two different agreements. According to David Govrin, an Israeli diplomat, the first deal was signed between the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), Morocco’s largest business company, and IBEO, one of Israel’s biggest technology firms.
Another agreement was signed between Casablanca’s National School of Business and Management and Tel Aviv University’s School of Management, Govrin stated. He also added that the deal would improve schooling and career prospects for Israeli and Moroccan students.
Netanyahu has also reportedly expressed gratitude to King Mohammed for hosting an official Israeli delegation this week and invited the king to visit Israel.
On January 11, Israel appointed Govrin, its former ambassador to Egypt, as the country’s temporary charge d’affaires in Morocco. It made the move 20 years after closing its branch office in the North African country. However, the reopening of Israel’s diplomatic mission in North Africa was declared on Tuesday.
After Israel’s aggressive reaction to the second Palestinian intifada and the cessation of peace talks with the Palestinians in 2000, Morocco severed all relations with the country.
Morocco, however, resumed diplomatic ties with the United States in December as part of an agreement backed by the United States. After the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Sudan, it became the fourth Arab nation to commit to normalization with Israel in 2020.
The kingdom has the largest Jewish population in North Africa, with around 3,000 members, and Israel has 700,000 Moroccan Jews. Morocco’s decision to develop diplomatic relations and communication with Israel was welcomed by regional leaders.
The normalization process between Morocco and Israel occurs while large public protests in social media has called for an end to Arab countries’ so-called “treason” against Palestine.
Simultaneously, the local political crisis in Israel which has deepened with a futile fourth election is noted as the reason behind Israel’s thirst for more agreements with the Arab world; a propaganda to distract the attentions.
