While on a four-day working visit to Morocco, Israel's Economy and Industry Minister Orna Barbivai met with her Moroccan counterpart Ryad Mezzour, where they signed a deal to boost trade and investment cooperation between Israel and Morocco. They want to quadruple the current trade between the two countries to $500 million; trade between the two currently stands at $131 million.
According to the Moroccan minister, the sectors with the highest potential include agribusiness, automotive, and renewable energy. There is hope that the agreement could also lead to cooperation and progress in their respective aerospace, textile, and pharmaceutical industries.
Morocco and Israel Are Building Deeper Ties
Minister Orna Barbivai's stay was Israel's third official visit to Morocco since diplomatic ties were re-established in late December 2020. The normalization of relations came after the Trump administration's interventions and negotiations in the Middle East. At the time, Morocco was one of the Middle Eastern nations to set aside hostilities with Israel.
As part of the agreement to normalize relations with Israel, former President Donald Trump changed the longstanding US policy over Western Sahara and recognized Morocco's sovereignty over it. The desert region of Western Sahara is under a decades-old dispute between Morocco and the Algeria-backed Polisario Front. The Polisario Front wishes to establish an independent state in the territory.
Shifting Foreign Policy in Middle-East
Morocco broke off relations with Iran after accusing it of funding the Polisario Front. Other Arab League nations signed normalization agreements with Israel, including Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Sudan, and Egypt.
The Israel–Morocco normalization agreement became the gateway to begin direct flights, promote economic cooperation, reopen liaison offices, and start full diplomatic relations.
Because it is starting from a low base, Morocco's trade with Israel has the potential to grow significantly. However, it has an impact on Middle Eastern relations. For decades, Arab nations were hostile to Israel because of its discriminatory actions and violations of Palestinian human rights. Arab nations have historically stood united against Israeli aggression. However, the growing influence of Iran in the region is forcing them to reconsider their foreign policies.
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