Morocco, Spain Sign Over 20 Agreements, Kicking off New Phase in Relations

Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch and his Spanish counterpart, Pedro Sanchez, inaugurate the 12th high-level summit meeting between Morocco and Spain in Rabat on Thursday. (AP)
Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch and his Spanish counterpart, Pedro Sanchez, inaugurate the 12th high-level summit meeting between Morocco and Spain in Rabat on Thursday. (AP)
TT
20

Morocco, Spain Sign Over 20 Agreements, Kicking off New Phase in Relations

Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch and his Spanish counterpart, Pedro Sanchez, inaugurate the 12th high-level summit meeting between Morocco and Spain in Rabat on Thursday. (AP)
Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch and his Spanish counterpart, Pedro Sanchez, inaugurate the 12th high-level summit meeting between Morocco and Spain in Rabat on Thursday. (AP)

Rabat and Madrid started a new era of relations, with the signing of more than 20 agreements, including facilitating Spanish investments in Morocco, establishing partnerships in the fields of education, culture, water desalination, and rail transport, and agreeing to ensure the passage of people and goods through customs, land and sea ports.

The two sides also discussed cooperation in combating irregular migration, in addition to agriculture, education, tourism and culture, and other vital fields.

Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch said Morocco and Spain entered a new phase of relations, in view of Madrid’s recognition of the autonomy initiative as a solution to the Moroccan Sahara issue.

“Our bilateral relationship marks a new era in light of your government’s support for the autonomy plan under Moroccan sovereignty, as Spain had the courage of historical realism, which we can only praise highly,” Akhannouch said, addressing his counterpart, Pedro Sanchez, during the high-level Spanish-Moroccan Forum in Rabat on Thursday.

The forum was last held in 2015.

According to the Moroccan premier, the talks presented an opportunity to review and evaluate the outcome of cooperation in the various political, security, economic, cultural and social fields, and an occasion to establish a new vision of partnership between their countries in the coming years.

Akhannouch explained that Spain was Morocco’s first economic and commercial partner, noting that the two countries “were able to establish a rich and diversified legal framework, keeping pace with the development in many fields.”

For his part, Sanchez said the high-level meeting inaugurated a new stage in relations between Spain and Morocco, calling for exploring new opportunities for bilateral cooperation.

“We are going to avoid anything that may offend the other, especially with regard to our respective spheres of sovereignty,” he added.

Around 20 agreements were signed on Thursday to bolster Spanish investments in areas including renewable energy, culture, water desalination and rail transport, in addition to an agreement to ensure the passage of people and goods through customs, land and sea ports.

The meeting also discussed cooperation in the field of combating irregular migration, infrastructure, water management, sustainable development and climate change, as well as agriculture, education, vocational training, regular migration and health security.



Israeli Military Inquiry Says It ‘Failed to Protect’ Civilians on October 7

An aerial view shows members of the media during a visit to Kibbutz Kfar Aza, in the aftermath of a deadly attack by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, October 15, 2023. (Reuters)
An aerial view shows members of the media during a visit to Kibbutz Kfar Aza, in the aftermath of a deadly attack by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, October 15, 2023. (Reuters)
TT
20

Israeli Military Inquiry Says It ‘Failed to Protect’ Civilians on October 7

An aerial view shows members of the media during a visit to Kibbutz Kfar Aza, in the aftermath of a deadly attack by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, October 15, 2023. (Reuters)
An aerial view shows members of the media during a visit to Kibbutz Kfar Aza, in the aftermath of a deadly attack by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, October 15, 2023. (Reuters)

The Israeli military drastically underestimated the capabilities of Hamas before its attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, and "failed in its mission to protect Israeli civilians", a summary of an Israeli military investigation published on Thursday said.

The perception that Hamas was not interested in a full-scale conflict and that Israel would have ample warning if that changed went unchallenged for years, the summary said, resulting in a lack of preparedness and ability to respond to an attack.

"The belief was that Hamas could be influenced through pressures that would reduce its motivation for war, primarily by improving living conditions in the Gaza Strip," the report said.

The investigation looked at Israeli military strategy, battle behavior and intelligence before, during and after October 7, 2023, when Hamas fighters stormed southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

More than 48,000 people have been killed in Israel's assault on Gaza since then, according to Palestinian health officials. Much of the enclave has been laid waste and most of the territory's 2.3 million prewar population have been displaced multiple times, humanitarian agencies say. Around 400 Israeli soldiers have also been killed.

The military investigation was conducted as calls grow from within the Israeli opposition and civil society for a national inquiry into the government's failures on the deadliest single day in modern Israeli history.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said a national inquiry would only be appropriate after the conclusion of the war.

The first phase of a ceasefire that began on January 19 is due to expire in two days' time.

The military investigation found Israel had focused its intelligence and military efforts on other fronts, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, and relied too heavily "on intelligence, barriers, and defensive measures alone", and was thus caught by surprise.

Military commanders did not perceive an urgent threat leading up to October 7 attacks and did not reinforce the troops defending the border.

A statement from the Israeli Prime Minister's Office on Thursday said that the military had not given the prime minister the findings of its investigations into the war.