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King Mohammed VI received the US-Israeli delegation, which arrived Tuesday in Rabat on the first direct flight linking Morocco to Israel, later today. Headed by Senior Advisor to US President Donald Trump Jared Kushner and Israel's National Security Advisor Meir Ben Shabbat, the delegation included Avrahm Joel Berkowitz, Special Representative for International Negotiations as well as Adam Seth Boehler, CEO of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation.
«During this Audience, His Majesty the King, May God assist Him, reiterated His full satisfaction with the historic results of the phone call that the Sovereign had, on December 10, 2020, with His Excellency Donald Trump, President of the United States of America. The presidential proclamation recognizing Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara, as well as the measures announced for the resumption of cooperation mechanisms with Israel, constitute major developments for the strengthening of peace and regional stability», reads a statement by the royal cabinet.
«These measures allow Israeli airlines to transport members of the Moroccan Jewish community and Israeli tourists to Morocco, the full resumption of diplomatic and official contacts and relations with Israel at the appropriate level, the promotion of a dynamic and innovative bilateral economic cooperation, and action to reopen liaison offices in Rabat and Tel Aviv», the same source added.
Israel liaison office to open in Rabat in two weeks
«Speaking to Mr. Meir Ben-Shabbat, His Majesty the King, May God assist Him, underlined the particular links with the Moroccan Jewish community, and in particular its members occupying positions of responsibility in Israel», the statement continues.
«His Majesty the King reiterated the coherent, constant and unchanged position of the Kingdom of Morocco on the Palestinian question, based on the solution of two States living side by side, in peace and security ; negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides as the only way to reach a comprehensive and final settlement; and the attachment of His Majesty the King, Chairman of the Al Quds Committee, to safeguarding the Muslim character of the Holy City».
At the end of this hearing, a Joint Declaration between Morocco, the United States and Israel was signed before the Sovereign by head of government Saadeddine El Othmani, Jared Kushner and Meir Ben-Shabbat. Morocco and Israel have also pledged to open the liaison offices before the end of January. Foreign minister Nasser Bourita said in a speech that the Israeli diplomatic branch will be inaugurated in Rabat within «the next two weeks».
For his part, Meir Ben-shabbat welcomed, in a speech delivered first in Moroccan dialect then in classical Arabic and Hebrew, the resumption of relations between Morocco and Israel, describing it as «historic» and recalling the links between the Kingdom and Israelis of Moroccan descent.
For his part, Kushner recalled that Morocco was the first country to recognize, three centuries ago, the independence of the United States, «which we will never forget», he said. Kushner revealed that Moroccans and Israelis are preparing to sign partnership agreements. US President Trump's Special Adviser also praised the autonomy plan proposed in 2007 by Morocco for the settlement of the Sahara issue.
Along with the royal reception of the delegation led by Jared Kushner and Ben-Shabbat, Moroccan government ministers met with Israeli officials. These include Finance minister Mohammed Benchaaboun, Equipment and Transport minister Abdelkader Amara, as well as Tourism minister Nadia Fettah Alaoui.
