Israel and Morocco agree to upgrade ties, open embassies in New York talks

Israel and Morocco have agreed to upgrade their diplomatic ties, including elevating their respective missions to embassies and appointing ambassadors to both countries. The agreement was reached at a meeting between the two countries’ foreign ministers in New York on Wednesday, which was hosted by the United States ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita also agreed to advance economic and trade relations. They agreed to complete two agreements by the end of this year, one on investment protection and one on preventing double taxation.

In a joint statement issued on behalf of all three countries, the US mission to the UN said that “the establishment of full diplomatic, peaceful and friendly relations between Morocco and Israel is in the common interest of both countries and will advance the cause of peace.”

The two sides also agreed to expand air travel, including by reinstating direct flights operated by carriers from both nations. They confirmed plans for high-level bilateral visits in the coming months.

The announcement came a day after the sixth anniversary of the Abraham Accords, an initiative spearheaded by US President Donald Trump during his first term in office. The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan and Kazakhstan have all joined the accords, which aim to normalise ties between Arab and Muslim-majority countries and Israel.

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