King Mohammed VI received, on Tuesday Dec. 22 at the Royal Palace in Rabat, heads of the visiting US and Israeli delegations, namely Senior Advisor to the US president Jared Kushner and Israel’s National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat, as well as Special Assistant to the US President and Special Representative for International Negotiations Avrahm Joel Berkowitz, the Royal Office said in a statement.
During this audience, the Monarch, who was accompanied by Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan, reiterated his full satisfaction with the historic results of the phone talks he had on December 10, 2020, with President Donald Trump.
The presidential proclamation recognizing the Moroccanness of the Sahara, as well as the measures announced for the resumption of cooperation mechanisms with Israel, constitute major developments for strengthening regional peace and stability, the Royal Office statement added.
These measures concern the authorization of Israeli airlines to transport members of the Moroccan Jewish community and Israeli tourists to Morocco, the full resumption of diplomatic and official contacts and relations with Israel at the appropriate level, the promotion of the cooperation momentum and innovative bilateral economy, and moves to reopen liaison offices in Rabat and Tel Aviv.
During the audience, King Mohammed VI also reiterated the coherent, unwavering and unmovable position of the Kingdom of Morocco on the Palestinian issue, based on the solution of two States living side by side, in peace and security; negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides as the only way to reach a comprehensive and final settlement; and the commitment of the King, Chairman of the Al Quds Committee, to safeguarding the Muslim character of the Holy City of Jerusalem, the statement stated further.
The visit to Morocco of the high-level US-Israeli delegation was crowned by a Joint Declaration announcing the opening of a new era in relations between Morocco and Israel.
Morocco, the United States, and Israel, referring to the telephone conversation held between King Mohammed VI and President Donald Trump, on 10 December 2020, and to the historic statements issued on the same day by the two leaders, and by the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, welcome the opportunity created through the extraordinary efforts and leadership of the United States, says the Joint Declaration.
The document highlights the proclamation by the United States on recognizing the sovereignty of Morocco over the Sahara, stating that “the United States recognizes Moroccan sovereignty over the entire Western Sahara territory and reaffirms its support for Morocco’s serious, credible, and realistic autonomy proposal as the only basis for a just and lasting solution to the dispute over the Western Sahara territory.”
To facilitate progress toward this aim, the three countries state that the United States “will encourage economic and social development with Morocco, including in the Western Sahara territory, and to that end will open a consulate in the Western Sahara territory, in Dakhla, to promote economic and business opportunities for the region,” the joint Declaration states.
In the same declaration, the three countries recall that the exchange of views, during the phone call between King Mohammed VI and President Donald Trump, on the current situation in the Middle East region in which the King reiterated the coherent, constant and unwavering position of the Kingdom of Morocco on the Palestinian question, as well as the position expressed on the importance of preserving the special status of the sacred city of Jerusalem for the three monotheistic religions in the King’s capacity as Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee.
The three countries also recognize the historic role that Morocco has always played in bringing the people of the region closer together and in promoting peace and stability in the Middle East, as well as the special ties that the King maintains with the Moroccan Jewish community living in Morocco and throughout the world including in Israel, the Joint Declaration states.
The three countries are mindful that the establishment of full diplomatic, peaceful and friendly relations is in the common interest of both countries and will advance the cause of peace in the region, improve regional security, and unlock new opportunities for the whole region.
