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Israel and Morocco have agreed to open full embassies and exchange ambassadors, pushing their relationship to its highest diplomatic level since the two countries restored ties nearly six years ago.
The agreement was reached during talks in New York involving Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz.
Under the deal, the countries will upgrade their existing diplomatic missions to embassies and appoint ambassadors. Direct flights are expected to resume by the end of the year, while high-level visits between Israeli and Moroccan officials will also restart.
The three countries also agreed to expand cooperation in security, trade, and investment, with further economic agreements expected to be completed before the end of 2026.
The Israeli government confirmed the embassy upgrade, while Waltz described the agreement as proof that the US-brokered Abraham Accords had survived years of war and political tension in the Middle East.
For ordinary travellers and businesses, the most visible change will be the return of direct flights. That could make tourism, family visits, and commercial travel easier between two countries with long-standing cultural connections, including Israel’s large community of Moroccan Jewish descent.
A relationship that had gone quiet
Morocco restored diplomatic relations with Israel in 2020, joining the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan in a series of US-backed deals known as the Abraham Accords.
The relationship initially grew quickly, with new flights, tourism links, and cooperation in defense, agriculture, technology, and trade. But much of that public diplomacy slowed after the Gaza war began in October 2023.
Large demonstrations were held in Moroccan cities, with protesters demanding that the government cut ties with Israel over the war and the treatment of Palestinians. Although Rabat did not formally end the relationship, public visits and diplomatic activity became far less visible.
The latest announcement therefore represents more than a technical change in diplomatic status. It signals that Morocco has decided to move the relationship forward again, despite the political sensitivity at home.
According to Waltz, trade between Israel and Morocco has grown sharply since ties were restored. The two governments now want to build on that cooperation in areas including water, agriculture, energy, telecommunications, and technology.
Western Sahara remains central to the deal
The agreement also includes renewed US support for Morocco’s claim over Western Sahara, a disputed territory that Morocco largely controls but which is also claimed by the Polisario Front, an independence movement.
Washington first recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara in 2020, when Morocco agreed to restore relations with Israel. The latest statement reaffirms that position.
Western Sahara is one of Morocco’s most important foreign policy issues, while the United Nations continues to regard the territory’s final status as unresolved.
Supporters of the agreement say closer diplomatic and economic ties can bring greater stability to the region. Critics, however, argue that normalization with Israel has moved ahead without resolving the Palestinian question.
Morocco says it continues to support the creation of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. It has also maintained humanitarian involvement in Gaza and joined international efforts aimed at improving security and delivering aid.
*Sources: Reuters, statements from the Israeli government and US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz.
