His Majesty King Mohammed VI has conveyed a message to the Prime Minister of the State of Israel, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, expressing appreciation for Israel’s “important” decision to recognize the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Morocco over its Sahara and to consider opening a Consulate in the city of Dakhla. His Majesty commends this decision as both just and far-sighted.
The Moroccan Sahara is a national priority and a cornerstone of the Kingdom’s foreign policy. His Majesty affirms that the decision reaffirms Morocco’s legal entitlement and historical rights over its Saharan Provinces, supported by longstanding ties of allegiance between the Kings of Morocco and the local populations.
The King highlights that Israel’s decision aligns with the international consensus backing a final solution to the regional dispute, based on Morocco’s Autonomy Initiative for the Sahara region, within the framework of the Kingdom’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
His Majesty emphasizes the unprecedented momentum in bilateral relations between Morocco and Israel across various sectors, including official visits, business cooperation, trade relations, and the significant role of the Moroccan Jewish community in fostering ties.
The King expresses confidence that Mr. Netanyahu’s clear position on the Moroccans of the Sahara will foster closer relations between the two nations.
The recognition of the Sahara as part of Morocco by several countries (the United States of America, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, etc.) will allow Morocco to play an even greater role as a facilitator of peace between Palestinians and Israelis, seeking a two-state solution, given the consideration, respect, and esteem enjoyed by our revered Sovereign from both parties.
It is worth recalling the tripartite agreement between Morocco, the United States, and Israel, where His Majesty the King, as the President of the Al Qods Committee, reiterated the Kingdom of Morocco’s consistent and unwavering position on the Palestinian issue, making the defense of this cause a priority of Moroccan foreign policy.
It should also be noted that on December 22, 2020, in Rabat, before His Majesty the King, the then Prime Minister, along with Mr. Jared Kushner, Senior Advisor to the President of the United States of America, and Mr. Meir Ben-Shabbat, National Security Advisor of the State of Israel, signed a tripartite agreement emphasizing the U.S. Proclamation recognizing the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Morocco over the Sahara, while reaffirming their support for Morocco’s serious, credible, and realistic autonomy proposal as the only basis for a just and lasting solution to the dispute over the Western Sahara.
In the same agreement, His Majesty reiterated the Kingdom of Morocco’s consistent and unwavering position on the Palestinian issue, as well as the importance of preserving the special status of the sacred city of Jerusalem for the three monotheistic religions.
According to the tripartite agreement, the three countries acknowledge Morocco’s historical role in fostering people-to-people relations and promoting peace and stability in the Middle East. The agreement also recognizes the special ties that His Majesty the King maintains with the Moroccan Jewish community living in Morocco and around the world, including in Israel.
