Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid will visit Morocco next month to inaugurate the new Israeli diplomatic representation in the Moroccan capital, Rabat. This is the first visit by an Israeli foreign minister to Morocco since 2003 when Silvan Shalon visited the kingdom as ambassador to the Israeli Foreign Ministry.
According to Assahifa Arabic sources, this visit comes to support Moroccan-Israeli relations and deepen them politically and economically, as Tel Aviv wants to make Moroccan-Israeli relations rise to a high level in view of the opportunities offered to strengthen them.
Lapid spoke last week with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita about the planned visit, and said in a statement: "The direct relationship between countries and peoples is a supreme Israeli interest," adding that, "We continue to work to strengthen relations between countries and to build economic, technological, cultural and tourism cooperation."
The Israeli foreign minister had previously considered that the resumption of bilateral relations with Morocco was a historic decision, and stressed the need to strengthen bilateral relations between Morocco and Israel.
Despite the resumption of relations between Israel and Morocco, relations have not yet reached the level of opening two embassies on both sides, as diplomatic relations are based on the two liaison offices only, the Moroccan in Tel Aviv and the Israeli in Rabat, which is what Yair Lapid is expected to discuss with Moroccan officials during a visit to the Kingdom.
In September, Morocco announced the restoration of relations with Israel under the meditation of The United States, in a tripartite agreement that includes the American recognition of the Moroccan sovereignty over Sahara.
