Israel has recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over Sahara, Morocco‘s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday. The ministry said on Twitter that Israel has decided to “recognize the sovereignty of Morocco over the lands of Sahara.”
Israel recognizes the Moroccan Sahara
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The State of Israel recognized Monday Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara, according to a letter from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Moroccan King Mohammed VI, indicates a press release from the Royal Palace.
In the letter, Netanyahu said that Israel’s decision would be “reflected in all relevant acts and documents of the Israeli Government” and would be “transmitted to the United Nations, regional and international organizations of which Israel is a member, as well as to all countries with which Israel maintains diplomatic relations.”
Netanyahu also said that Israel is “examining positively” the opening of a consulate in the city of Dakhla, in the Sahara.
The Moroccan government welcomed Israel’s decision, saying that it “confirms the strong ties between the two countries and opens new horizons for cooperation in all areas.”
The decision is a significant development in the long-standing dispute over the Sahara. Morocco has claimed the territory since 1975, but the Polisario Front, a Sahrawi independence movement, has fought for its own state.
The decision will help boost relations between Morocco and Israel, which normalized ties in 2020.
The North African monarch said Netanyahu sent a letter confirming the State of Israel’s decision to “recognize the sovereignty of Morocco over the territory of Sahara.”
The official statement from the kingdom added that the position will be “reflected in all relevant acts and documents of the Israeli Government,” as well as “transmitted to the United Nations, to regional and international organizations of which Israel is a member, and to all countries with which Israel maintains diplomatic relations.”
According to the statement, Netanyahu also informed the Moroccan king that Israel was positively considering “the opening of a consulate in the town of Dakhla,” which lies in the contested area.
It is worth noting that King Mohammed VI of Morocco has a special position as the head of the Jerusalem Committee, which put Morocco in a balanced position between Israel and the Palestinians, noting that Morocco has affirmed its commitment to the right of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
