Israel and Morocco move to upgrade diplomatic and commercial ties [PHOTO/VIDEO]

Israel and Morocco have agreed to take further steps
to upgrade their diplomatic relationship, including elevating their
diplomatic missions to full embassies and appointing ambassadors,
following a trilateral summit with the United States in New
York.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Moroccan
Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and US Ambassador to the United
Nations Mike Waltz took part in the meeting, which focused on
strengthening Israel-Morocco relations and expanding commercial
ties.

The three countries reaffirmed their commitment to
deepening bilateral relations between Israel and Morocco, with the
planned elevation of diplomatic missions to full embassies
representing a significant institutional step in the relationship.
The two sides also agreed to appoint ambassadors.

The move builds on the restoration of formal
Israel-Morocco relations in 2020 under the US-brokered Abraham
Accords. The latest agreement seeks to move the relationship
towards a more developed diplomatic and economic framework.

Economic cooperation featured prominently in the
discussions. Israel and Morocco agreed to complete agreements on
investment protection and the prevention of double taxation by the
end of 2026. The measures are intended to facilitate reciprocal
investment and support closer business and commercial links between
the two countries.

The countries are also expected to expand direct air
links. Moroccan airlines are expected to begin operating direct
flights to Israel in the coming weeks, while the two governments
have discussed further high-level reciprocal visits.

The New York meeting comes as the Abraham Accords
approach their sixth anniversary, with the United States continuing
to support the expansion of ties established through the 2020
normalisation agreements.

Sa’ar said the declaration agreed at the summit sets
out practical measures for upgrading Israel-Morocco relations and
stressed the historical links between the Moroccan and Jewish
peoples.

The planned embassy upgrade would give the
relationship a more conventional diplomatic structure, while the
proposed investment and tax agreements could provide a framework
for expanding economic activity.

For Washington, the trilateral meeting also provides
a platform for reinforcing one of the regional relationships
created by the Abraham Accords, while Israel and Morocco seek to
broaden cooperation beyond political contacts into investment,
business, tourism and transport.

The latest measures therefore represent a further
institutionalisation of the Israel-Morocco relationship, combining
diplomatic upgrades with steps aimed at making bilateral economic
ties more practical and sustained.

* Photo Credit: Yuval Golan