BREAKING: On the Eve of Chanuka, Morocco Agrees to Normalize Relatios with Israel
Another historic Middle-East deal has been reached — this time between Israel and Morocco and on the eve of Chanuka. Perhaps it was no small coincidence, because Ivanka Trump took to Twitter in recognition of it . . .
“On the eve of Hanukkah,” she exclaimed, “@realDonaldTrump Jared Kushner and @aviberkow45 facilitated the full normalization of relations between between Isreal [sic] & Morocco – the 4th Arab country to end hostilities with Israel in the past 4 months! Simply extraordinary!”
On the eve of Hanukkah, @realDonaldTrump Jared Kushner and @aviberkow45 facilitated the full normalization of relations between between Isreal 🇮🇱 & Morocco 🇲🇦- the 4th Arab country to end hostilities with Israel in the past 4 months! 🇺🇸
— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) December 10, 2020
Simply extraordinary! https://t.co/6SkjFBIGRD
President Trump also commented on the fourth “historic breakthrough” in Middle East relations . . .
“Another HISTORIC breakthrough today!” he posted to Twitter. “Our two GREAT friends Israel and the Kingdom of Morocco have agreed to full diplomatic relations – a massive breakthrough for peace in the Middle East!”
Another HISTORIC breakthrough today! Our two GREAT friends Israel and the Kingdom of Morocco have agreed to full diplomatic relations – a massive breakthrough for peace in the Middle East!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 10, 2020
Israel, Morocco agree to normalize relations in latest U.S.-brokered deal
By Steve Holland | Reuters | December 10, 2020
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Israel and Morocco agreed on Thursday to normalize relations in a deal brokered with U.S. help, making Morocco the fourth Arab country to set aside hostilities with Israel in the past four months.
As part of the agreement, U.S. President Donald Trump changed longstanding U.S. policy and recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over the Western Sahara.
The Western Sahara is a desert region where a decades-old territorial dispute has pitted Morocco against the Algeria-backed Polisario Front, a breakaway movement that seeks to establish an independent state in the territory.
Trump sealed the agreement in a phone call with Morocco’s King Mohammed VI on Thursday, the White House said.
“Another HISTORIC breakthrough today! Our two GREAT friends Israel and the Kingdom of Morocco have agreed to full diplomatic relations – a massive breakthrough for peace in the Middle East!” Trump tweeted.
Morocco is the fourth country since August to strike a deal aimed at normalizing relations with Israel. The others were the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan.
Much of the momentum behind the deal-making has been to present a united front against Iran and roll back its regional influence.
Palestinians have been critical of the normalization deals, saying Arab countries have set back the cause of peace by abandoning a longstanding demand that Israel give up land for a Palestinian state before it can receive recognition.
With Trump due to leave office on Jan. 20, the Morocco deal could be among the last his team, led by White House senior adviser Jared Kushner and U.S. envoy Avi Berkowitz, will negotiate before giving way to President-elect Joe Biden’s incoming administration.
Kushner told reporters on a conference call it was inevitable that Saudi Arabia would eventually strike a similar deal with Israel.
FULL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS
Under the agreement, Morocco will establish full diplomatic relations and resume official contacts with Israel, grant overflights and also direct flights to and from Israel for all Israelis.
