Israel and Morocco agree to normalise relations
Move follows historic deals between United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan
Israel and Morocco have announced an agreement to normalise relations between them, marking the fourth such historic accord in as many months between Arab nations and the Jewish state.
The deal was brokered with the help of the United States, after Donald Trump agreed to recognise Morocco’s disputed sovereignty over Western Sahara, which the UN deems to be a “non-self-governing territory”.
By agreeing to normalise relations, King Mohammed VI has made Morocco the fourth Arab-majority country to shake hands with Israel since the summer, the others being the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan.
Under the agreement, Morocco will establish full diplomatic relations with Israel, grant overflights and also direct flights to and from Israel for all Israelis.
White House advisor Jared Kushner said: “They are going reopen their liaison offices in Rabat and Tel Aviv immediately with the intention to open embassies and they are going to promote economic cooperation between Israeli and Moroccan companies.”
He added that it was “another historic milestone,” saying Morocco was “building on its longstanding bond with the Moroccan Jewish community living in Morocco and throughout the world, including in Israel”.
The White House said it likewise gave its support for “Morocco’s serious, credible, and realistic autonomy proposal as the only basis for a just and lasting solution to the dispute over the Western Sahara territory… as such the president recognised Moroccan sovereignty over the entire Western Sahara territory”.
Trump tweeted: “Morocco recognised the United States in 1777. It is thus fitting we recognise their sovereignty over Western Sahara.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
