Morocco and Israel Open Full Embassies — Why Western Sahara Is Back in Focus
Morocco-Israel relations have entered a new phase after the two countries agreed to upgrade their diplomatic missions to full embassies and exchange ambassadors, a U.S.-hosted move that also brought the disputed Western Sahara issue back into the accompanying political declaration.
Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar reached the agreement during a trilateral meeting in New York hosted by U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz.
Morocco-Israel Relations Move to Full Embassy Status
Under the agreement, the existing liaison offices in Rabat and Tel Aviv will be elevated to embassies and the two governments will appoint ambassadors.
The sides also agreed to restore direct commercial flights operated by airlines from both countries before the end of 2026 and to advance agreements covering investment protection and the avoidance of double taxation.
Other areas identified for expanded cooperation include trade, technology, tourism, water, agriculture, energy and telecommunications.
Profile News previously examined the Abraham Accords and Morocco’s place in the U.S.-brokered normalization framework, which began reshaping diplomatic ties between Israel and several Arab states in 2020.
Western Sahara Returns to the Diplomatic Statement
The trilateral declaration also reaffirmed U.S. and Israeli recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara and their support for Morocco’s autonomy proposal as the basis for resolving the long-running dispute.
The status of Western Sahara remains internationally disputed. Morocco considers the territory part of the kingdom, while the Polisario Front seeks independence. The United Nations continues to treat the issue as an unresolved political dispute subject to a U.N.-led process.
Washington first recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara in December 2020 as Morocco resumed official relations with Israel. Israel announced its own recognition of Morocco’s position in 2023.
Direct Flights and High-Level Visits Planned
The latest agreement goes beyond diplomatic titles. Morocco and Israel also plan reciprocal high-level visits in the coming months, while direct flights are expected to resume before the end of the year.
The shift from liaison offices to embassies gives the relationship full ambassadorial representation and expands formal diplomatic and consular channels between the two governments.
The move comes despite continuing regional tensions over Gaza and the Palestinian issue. Morocco has maintained that its relations with Israel do not alter its support for a two-state solution, while Israel has presented the upgrade as another step in consolidating the normalization framework.
The New York agreement therefore combines a practical expansion of Morocco-Israel relations with a renewed diplomatic statement on Western Sahara, making the announcement broader than a simple exchange of ambassadors.
Report Sources: Profile News, Reuters, Israeli Government, Al Jazeera, U.S.-Morocco-Israel joint statement.
