Israel and Morocco agree to open embassies and expand flights after New York talks

Bilateral agreement in New York

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita met on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, to elevate their liaison offices to full embassies and appoint accredited ambassadors. The bilateral talks took place in New York at the invitation of United States Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz. The Israeli foreign ministry announced the outcome in an official statement, confirming that all three delegations reaffirmed their commitment to upgrade mutual diplomatic representations. Morocco did not release an immediate public statement following the meeting, and the parties did not announce a specific calendar date for opening the new embassy facilities. A joint statement released through the United States mission to the United Nations articulated the collective purpose of the diplomatic step.

[The] establishment of full diplomatic, peaceful and friendly relations between Morocco and Israel is in the common interest of both countries and will advance the cause of peace.

Economic pacts and aviation expansion

Alongside the embassy upgrades, the two governments agreed to conclude two bilateral economic treaties before the end of 2026. The planned pacts focus on investment protection and the elimination of double taxation on cross-border commercial trade. The delegations also reached an agreement to expand civil aviation by reinstating direct scheduled flights operated by Israeli and Moroccan air carriers. Additionally, the Israeli foreign ministry announced that reciprocal high-level official visits between the two governments will take place in the coming months. Saar described the bilateral framework in an official statement released after the conclusion of the talks.

The friendship between the Moroccan and Jewish peoples has deep roots and a rich history. The declaration we signed today presents concrete ways to strengthen relations between Israel and Morocco in the interests of both peoples.

Evolution of diplomatic ties

Diplomatic contact between Morocco and Israel began in the early 1990s before the Moroccan government severed relations following the outbreak of the Second Intifada in the early 2000s. Formal bilateral ties resumed in December 2020 through the Abraham Accords framework established during the first presidential term of Donald Trump. Other signatory nations to the wider normalisation process include the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Kazakhstan. Since renewing ties in 2020, cooperation between Israel and Morocco has expanded across military, security, commercial, and tourism channels. An earlier proposal to open full embassies was announced in June 2022 during an official visit to Morocco by then-Foreign Minister Yair Lapid.

Regional developments and public reaction

The discussions in New York took place one day after the sixth anniversary of the initial Abraham Accords. Bilateral relations experienced domestic scrutiny after the outbreak of the Gaza war triggered by the 7 October 2023 attack by Hamas. Demonstrators gathered in Moroccan cities to express solidarity with Palestinians and demand the formal cancellation of normalization agreements with Israel. Throughout the conflict, the Moroccan government issued official appeals for a cessation of military operations in Gaza, while maintaining the diplomatic framework and liaison offices established under the 2020 agreements.