Strengthening Ties: A Pivotal Meeting in New York
On September 16, 2026, in a significant development for diplomatic relations, Morocco and Israel took a major leap forward during a meeting in New York. The Moroccan Foreign Minister, Nasser Bourita, and his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Saar, gathered in the presence of Mike Waltz, the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, to adopt a series of measures aimed at solidifying their bilateral ties. The most notable decision was the commitment from both nations to upgrade their liaison offices to full embassies, along with the appointment of ambassadors. This announcement was initially made public by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, although no specific timeline for the actual opening of the embassies was provided.
The timing of this gathering was highly symbolic; it took place just after a reception hosted by Mike Waltz to commemorate the sixth anniversary of the Abraham Accords, attended by representatives from the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, Israel, and Kazakhstan, which joined the accords in November 2025. Washington, having played a pivotal role in the rapprochement of 2020, aims to demonstrate that the momentum initiated six years ago continues to thrive. Gideon Saar emphasized the deep historical connections between Moroccans and Jews and presented the New York declaration as a concrete roadmap for further enhancing their relationship.
A Long-Awaited Advancement
This elevation in diplomatic status concludes a lengthy chapter characterized by previous announcements that did not materialize. Morocco officially resumed its relations with Israel on December 10, 2020, following the United States' recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara. A tripartite declaration with Washington was signed in Rabat on December 22, 2020, leading both capitals to initially opt for liaison offices instead of full embassies.
Despite this, Israel had taken proactive steps as early as the summer of 2021. During a visit to Morocco, the then Israeli Foreign Minister, Yair Lapid, announced plans for embassies to open within months; however, this remained a unilateral declaration, met with no official response from Moroccan diplomacy. For Morocco, the issue was closely tied to the Sahara dossier. In July 2023, Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara in a letter to King Mohammed VI, yet this recognition did not translate into enhanced diplomatic representation. At that time, a Moroccan government source quoted by EFE described the Israeli position as a decisive step but insisted that the rapprochement would not compromise Morocco's support for the Palestinian cause.
The situation changed dramatically with the onset of the Gaza conflict, which effectively stalled the diplomatic process. Following a period of increasing exchanges, relations significantly slowed down starting in October 2023, when Israel recalled its diplomatic personnel from Rabat and several cooperative projects were either frozen or delayed. Morocco experienced significant public demonstrations of solidarity with the Palestinians, with calls to halt normalization. Officially, Rabat urged a cessation of hostilities while maintaining its commitment to the rapprochement.
Despite these challenges, communication channels remained open. As reported by Maroc Hebdo, a meeting took place on January 28, 2025, at the Moroccan Foreign Ministry in Rabat, involving Moroccan officials and Israeli diplomats, including Chargé d'Affaires Yossi Ben David. Additionally, Israel resumed construction on the building designated for its future embassy in the capital at the beginning of 2025.
Beyond diplomatic matters, the New York declaration includes significant economic initiatives. Both countries aim to finalize a mutual investment protection agreement and a non-double taxation convention by the end of 2026, both intended to provide a clearer legal and fiscal framework for operators on both sides. Furthermore, enhancing air transport is a priority; Moroccan carriers are expected to resume direct flights to Israel within weeks, nearly three years after their suspension following the events of October 7, 2023. Before the interruption, four airlines operated five routes, including Royal Air Maroc's Casablanca-Tel Aviv service. Recently, Arkia resumed its Tel Aviv-Marrakech route with two weekly flights. Upcoming mutual visits by senior officials are also on the agenda.
As for the implementation timeline, no specific dates have been announced for the accreditation of future ambassadors, and the communication has predominantly originated from the Israeli side. The official response from Rabat, the selection of appointees, and the evolving situation in the Middle East will ultimately determine whether the New York declaration signifies a genuine sustainable renewal or yet another phase in a process that has faced numerous delays.
As reported by maroc-hebdo.com.
