Morocco weighing options to open an embassy in Tel Aviv, a senior Moroccan government source is reported to have told Spanish news agency EFE on Monday.
It forms part of moves to strengthen the ties between the Monarch and the Middles East country.
The unnamed authorized government official said that Morocco is in the “process” of upgrading the status of the diplomatic office to an embassy instead of a liaison office.
The news comes a few hours following Israel’s decision to recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara.
Morocco and Israel re-established diplomatic ties in December 2020, with the two countries stressing the importance of cooperating together in all fields – including security and trade.
The decision to re-establish ties also marked the opening of liaison offices representing the two countries in Tel Aviv and Rabat.
The diplomatic representations have not been upgraded to serve as embassies as of now.
“The step now taken by Israel… is an advanced position and one that has no ambiguity,” the Moroccan source said.
Israel also announced that it is considering opening a consulate in the southern province of Dakhla, reflecting its full support for Morocco’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over its southern provinces in the Western Sahara legion.
On Monday, Morocco’s royal cabinet announced that Israel’s Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu informed King Mohammed VI of his country’s decision to recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara in a letter.
The Israeli PM also announced that Israel’s decision will be transmitted to the UN, regional and international organizations of which Israel is a member, as well as to all countries with which Israel maintains diplomatic relations.
The recognition also comes on the same day as Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the appointment of Colonel Sharon Itach as Israel’s first-ever military attaché to the North African country.
Itach is of Moroccan descent and is currently leading the IDF HomeFront Command’s Haifa district.
