What will Morocco gain from renewing ties with Israel?
Morocco will re-establish relations with Israel in exchange for the US recognition of its sovereignty over Western Sahara.
Morocco is joining three other Arab nations in recognising the state of Israel, and establishing full diplomatic ties.
The Trump administration negotiated the four deals – in what many are describing as a quid pro quo style.
In the case of Morocco, normalisation came in exchange for a United States proclamation of sovereignty.
The outgoing US president, Donald Trump, recognised the Kingdom of Morocco’s claim over Western Sahara – fought over for decades by Morocco and the pro-independence Polisario Front.
In one announcement he automatically sidelined the United Nations’ efforts to resolve the dispute in that region.
But how does this boost Morocco’s claim to this territory?
Presenter: Mohammed Jamjoom
Guests:
Elie Jacobs – partner with the Truman National project and president of public affairs consultancy firm E-J Strategies
Lahcen Haddad – strategic affairs analyst and a former Moroccan minister
Rami Khouri – director of Global Engagement at the American University of Beirut