Israeli, Moroccan Officials Hold Talks in Rabat

Director-General of political affairs at the Moroccan Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Fouad Yazourh, with the Director-General of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs Alon Ushpiz (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Director-General of political affairs at the Moroccan Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Fouad Yazourh, with the Director-General of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs Alon Ushpiz (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Israeli, Moroccan Officials Hold Talks in Rabat

Director-General of political affairs at the Moroccan Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Fouad Yazourh, with the Director-General of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs Alon Ushpiz (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Director-General of political affairs at the Moroccan Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Fouad Yazourh, with the Director-General of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs Alon Ushpiz (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Director-General of political affairs at the Moroccan Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Fouad Yazourh, held talks with his Israeli counterpart Alon Ushpiz.

Ushpiz is on a working visit to Morocco at the head of an Israeli delegation.

The two officials reviewed bilateral relations and ways to foster cooperation in political, economic, and cultural fields following the Morocco-US-Israel trilateral agreement signed in December 2020.

The two also exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest, particularly the comprehensive challenges of combating terrorism, global warming, and sustainable development.

At the Ministry's headquarters, the Israeli delegation also discussed with representatives of government institutions, the business community, and the private sector on bilateral and tripartite economic levels.



Türkiye to Seek Lifting of Syria Sanctions, Erdogan Tells Sharaa

This handout photograph taken and released by Turkish Presidency Press Office on April 11, 2025, shows Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shaking hands with Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa (L) during a meeting the 4th edition of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF2025) in Antalya. (Handout / Turkish Presidency Press Office / AFP)
This handout photograph taken and released by Turkish Presidency Press Office on April 11, 2025, shows Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shaking hands with Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa (L) during a meeting the 4th edition of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF2025) in Antalya. (Handout / Turkish Presidency Press Office / AFP)
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Türkiye to Seek Lifting of Syria Sanctions, Erdogan Tells Sharaa

This handout photograph taken and released by Turkish Presidency Press Office on April 11, 2025, shows Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shaking hands with Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa (L) during a meeting the 4th edition of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF2025) in Antalya. (Handout / Turkish Presidency Press Office / AFP)
This handout photograph taken and released by Turkish Presidency Press Office on April 11, 2025, shows Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shaking hands with Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa (L) during a meeting the 4th edition of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF2025) in Antalya. (Handout / Turkish Presidency Press Office / AFP)

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Friday that Türkiye will continue its diplomatic efforts to lift international sanctions against Syria, Erdogan’s office said.

During their meeting at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Türkiye, Erdogan said efforts should be increased to revitalize trade and economic cooperation with Syria and that Türkiye will continue to provide support to the country, the statement said.

Türkiye is an influential actor in neighboring Syria as opposition groups it supported during the civil war took power last December. However, the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad aggravated already tense relations between Türkiye and Israel, with their conflicting interests pushing the relationship toward a possible collision course.

When Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House last month, he advised him to be “reasonable” in his dealings with Ankara.

Erdogan told the forum in Antalya: “We are in a state of understanding and close dialogue with influential actors in the region, especially Trump and (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, in preserving the territorial integrity of Syria."

As if to underline this position, Sharaa sat just two places away from Erdogan’s seat in the hall.

It was Sharaa’s second trip to Türkiye as leader after Erdogan welcomed him to the capital Ankara in February.

In an apparent warning, Erdogan said that “no-one should misunderstand our cool-headedness and our stance of resolving issues through dialogue.”

The president has been a vocal critic of Israel’s operations in Gaza.