Three trade agreements between Israel and Morocco signal stronger ties following Abraham Accords

Israel and Morocco signed three trade agreements to strengthen cooperation between the two nations on Monday.

Specifically, the agreements focused on the transportation sector, with Israeli Minister of Transport Miri Regev travelling to Rabat to sign the agreements with her Moroccan counterpart, Mohammed Abdeljalil.

One of the agreements will allow Israelis to rent a car and explore Morocco using their Israeli driver’s license in Morocco. About 50,000 Israelis visited Morocco each year before the Abraham Accords, and that number has risen since the end of COVID-19 travel restrictions.

The other two agreements are related to increasing direct shipping between the two countries, and sharing exchanges related to road safety and transportation.

“The series of bilateral agreements signed, relating to the maritime, land and air domains, will make it possible to strengthen cooperation between Israel and Morocco,” said Regev.

Israel’s transportation minister tweeted about the visit on social media.

“A few minutes ago, we landed a professional delegation in Morocco. This is the first visit by an Israeli transport minister to Morocco. The visit will include a meeting with my counterpart, Morocco's Minister of Transport, Mr. Mohamed Abdeljali, and the signing of important cooperation agreements on transportation issues between the two countries,” Regev tweeted.

לפני מספר דקות חתמתי על הסכמי תחבורה עם שר התחבורה המרוקאי במסגרת הביקור הרשמי שלי במרוקו.
זהו ביקור ראשון של שר/ת תחבורה ישראלי אשר מבקר במרוקו.

כמו כן סיכמנו על הקמת צוותי עבודה משותפים בין המדינות בתחומי התחבורה השונים. pic.twitter.com/p2TpmduI5I

— מירי רגב (@regev_miri) May 29, 2023

Regev also wrote about her family’s connection to Morocco.

“On a personal level, I will close a circle. My father, who will live a long life, was born in Morocco, and during the visit I will get to light a candle on the grave of my late grandfather.

“With God's help, we will do it and succeed.”

Regev told i24 News that Israel will soon declare its official position regarding the Western Sahara region that is contested by Morocco and the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).

“Relations with Morocco are of the utmost importance to Israel, and I am sure that the government will take a position on this issue very soon,” Regev said.

Morocco controls about two-thirds of the territory, while SADR controls the remaining third.

The Moroccan government is pressuring Israel to recognize its jurisdiction over the area. The Arab League and much of the Muslim world do recognize Morocco’s claims to the territory, while other countries have been neutral, calling for a peaceful resolution to the situation.

The U.S. agreed to recognize Moroccan sovereignty over the territory in return for Morocco  joining the Abraham Accords.