Israel’s recognition of the Sahara as Moroccan Monday became international media outlets’ main topic. Even certain French media outlets which are known for their inherent hostility towards Morocco admit to this watershed moment in international relations.
News outlet Israel Hayom elucidated that Israel’s recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara is a development that will deepen ties between the two countries and between the two peoples, adding that Israel’s step will likely be followed by the upgrade of Moroccan representation in Israel to embassy status. The news outlet also reported that King of Morocco will likely invite Netanyahu to visit the country, with reciprocity of visitation by Moroccan ministers to Tel Aviv subsequent to that development.
French news daily Libération also shed light on this event in describing this recognition as a new diplomatic breakthrough.
German news website Der Spiegel said this advancement in diplomatic relations between the two nations may lead to a new free trade agreement, pointing out that the decision is expected to encourage Israeli investment in the Kingdom, and added that the Israeli military appointment of a colonel as defense attaché in Morocco is a sign of rapprochement.
Spanish-speaking news outlet Expartibus wrote that Israel’s decision to recognize the Moroccan status of the Sahara is a major political and diplomatic victory for the Kingdom, thereby consolidating international support for the country’s territorial integrity. It added that this step also reinforces the favorable dynamics manifested in recent years thanks to the vision of Mohammed VI, pointing out that the United States’ similar step expanded support for the autonomy of the Sahara to over 15 European countries, including Germany, Spain, Switzerland, and Austria.
Expartibus went on to say that this decision will facilitate and encourage Israeli and other international investment in the southern provinces of the Kingdom, without affecting King Mohammed VI’s unwavering position in favor of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, which the Sovereign has elevated to the status of a national cause.
Likewise, Italian news outlet Futuroquotidiano wrote that Israel’s decision to acknowledge Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara is a significant political and diplomatic win for the Kingdom. The territorial integrity of the nation obviously gained more international backing as a result.
Newslooks reported that Israel’s approval comes amid diplomatic gains Morocco has been scoring in the past decade in the Sahara dossier, adding that an increasing number of power players in the international community have reflected their support for Morocco’s territorial integrity either through recognition or the opening of representation offices in the country’s southern provinces in Dakhla and Laayoune.
It further pointed out that Israeli recognition of the Sahara as part of Morocco could lead to the opening of official embassies. This will likely hinge in part on precisely just how enthusiastically the Biden administration continues to support Morocco’s claim to the Sahara.
“Israel’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara is a sensitive and great deal of the Moroccan Diplomacy which could boost the Kingdom as a main actor in the North Africa region. Since the diplomatic accord was signed in 2020, Morocco has shown more skeptical positions of not forwarding the full diplomatic relations with Tel Aviv, due to the flawed Israeli position toward the Moroccanness of the Sahara,” wrote Newslooks.
It added that the Israeli recognition will help both the two countries to solidify and capitalize on their military, security, economic, and cultural relations in terms of shaping a solid partnership and a relevant alliance with the U.S., other Western nations, and Arabic countries which are currently supporting Morocco’s territorial integrity.
In addition, the Israeli recognition is a direct and imminent message to Algeria, which can always be counted on to spitefully scheme at any cost for dubious partnerships in its never-ending quest to quash Moroccan aspirations, regardless of what they may entail.
Senegalese news outlet Senego also wrote that Israel’s decision is a further victory for Morocco, thus consolidating the international community’s support for the Kingdom’s territorial integrity. It also advanced the perspective that Israeli and other foreign investors will seize this great investment opportunity offered by the Moroccan Sahara region.
Senego goes on, “It also represents a continuation of the dynamic that the Royal Vision has created in recent years, which is highly favorable to the Moroccan national cause (American recognition; support for autonomy from more than 15 European countries, including Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Austria; and the opening of 28 consulates in the southern provinces of African, Arab and Latin American countries), reported Senego.
Turkish news agency Anadolu reported that the Israeli foreign minister welcomed Netanyahu’s decision to recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara.
Le Monde said that the decision would pave the way for broader relations between Morocco and Israel. The news outlet affirmed that the détente between the two countries exists on a different level from those of the Gulf monarchies, specifically in terms of the expectations that it has raised in the Middle East.
Spanish-speaking news outlet El Espanol added that the fact that Israel has recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara places the Alawite kingdom in an increasingly stronger position on the African continent and has thereby completely isolated the polisario, which essentially maintains one singular source of support in the region in Algeria.