Israel and Morocco marked one year since the renewal of ties between the countries as part of the Abraham Accords, signed in December 2020, through a tripartite agreement with the US.
The two embassies hosted a joint event at the Watergate Hotel alongside members of Congress, representatives of Jewish organizations.
Israeli Ambassador to the US Mike Herzog said that “for Israel, and for me, this is not just another agreement in a series of Israeli-Arab agreements.”
“This new chapter in our special relationship goes much deeper than aligned geopolitical interests.”
He indicated that “together, we can advance our shared vision for a peaceful, thriving and stable region. I strongly believe that the relations between us, as well as the relations between Jews and Muslims at large, could make a significant contribution in this respect.”
Moroccan Ambassador to the US Princess Lalla Joumala said that under the stewardship of King Mohammed VI, a bold step was taken a year ago to “re-establish diplomatic ties with Israel and open a new chapter in our bilateral relations.”
She said that “this normalization between our two countries was the natural evolution of an already rich, multifaceted and longstanding relationship marked by the deep attachment of the kingdom to its Moroccan Jewish community.”
Before the normalization agreement, Tel Aviv and Rabat did not have full relations, and the two sides had diplomatic offices instead of embassies.
The two countries also reopened their respective liaison offices after Morocco halted ties with Israel at the outset of the Second Intifada in 2000.
Morocco is home to the largest Jewish community in North Africa, with a population of 3,000. About 700,000 Jews of Moroccan origin live in Israel.