Israel and Morocco agree to open embassies and expand air links during New York talks

Diplomatic elevation in New York

Israel and Morocco agreed on Wednesday to elevate their respective diplomatic liaison offices to full embassies and appoint ambassadors. The decision was reached during a trilateral meeting in New York hosted by United States Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz, attended by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita. The Israeli Foreign Ministry announced the accord through an official Arabic statement on X, confirming that both nations will upgrade their existing diplomatic missions. Liaison offices had functioned between 1994 and 2000 before Rabat closed them during the Second Intifada, later reopening them under the December 2020 normalization accord. While neither government set a specific date for the embassy openings, both sides agreed to organize reciprocal high-level official visits in the coming months.

Economic and commercial commitments

Alongside diplomatic upgrades, the delegations established concrete economic goals to be completed before the end of 2026. These include finalizing two bilateral economic treaties designed to protect foreign investments and prevent double taxation, facilitating cross-border business ties. Israel and Morocco also committed to expanding direct flights between the two countries, incorporating additional routes operated by Moroccan commercial airlines. Bilateral cooperation has expanded across trade, tourism, technology, and defense since 2020. Contacts between the Israeli and Moroccan armed forces have developed joint defense programs, including a dedicated military work plan for 2026.

Western Sahara and multilateral ties

The New York meeting followed an event commemorating the sixth anniversary of the 2020 Abraham Accords, attended by delegates from Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Kazakhstan. A joint statement reaffirmed United States and Israeli recognition of Moroccan sovereignty across the entire territory of Western Sahara. The statement described the Moroccan autonomy plan as serious, credible, and realistic, calling it the only viable basis for resolving the territorial dispute. The United States first recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara in 2020, followed by Israel in 2023. Saar commended the Moroccan leadership during the New York summit.

“The Abraham Accords demonstrate that all barriers can be broken, that a new path can be chosen for everyone, of peace and collaboration of all our countries. Morocco occupies a very special place in this vision. I want to thank them for their friendship and their dedication to rebuilding the friendship between Muslims and Jews.”

Domestic unrest and political constraints

The diplomatic deepening coincides with sustained domestic public pressure in Morocco following the outbreak of the war in Gaza triggered by the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack against Israel. Tens of thousands of Moroccan demonstrators have staged protests demanding the complete severance of bilateral ties. Demonstrations organized by students, leftists, Islamists, families, and trade union members have featured anti-normalization slogans, with some demonstrators burning Israeli flags or chanting against royal adviser André Azoulay. Morocco's legal framework allows general freedom of expression but criminalizes any direct criticism of King Mohammed VI and the monarchy. Moroccan courts have handed prison sentences to activists who targeted the monarchy online or staged protests against boycotted businesses operating with Israel. The Moroccan government has called for a cessation of the war in Gaza while preserving its diplomatic framework with Israel.