In a significant diplomatic move, Israel has formally recognized Morocco's claim to Western Sahara. This decision aligns Israel with the United States as the only nations to acknowledge Morocco's control over the disputed North African region. The Israeli government's announcement followed a letter from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to King Mohammed VI of Morocco, confirming Israel's position. Foreign Minister Eli Cohen emphasized that this recognition would bolster the relationship between the two countries and contribute to regional stability.
This diplomatic development builds upon the Abraham Accords, orchestrated by former President Donald Trump, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations, including Morocco. While the two countries had limited diplomatic ties in the 1990s, these were interrupted by the Palestinian uprising in 2000. The re-establishment of relations signifies a renewed partnership.
As part of the agreement for Morocco to normalize relations with Israel in December 2020, the Trump administration pledged to recognize Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. This move deviated from decades of established U.S. policy and international consensus that the territory's status should be determined through a U.N. referendum.
Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony with potentially substantial offshore oil and mineral resources, was annexed by Morocco in 1975. This action triggered a conflict with the Polisario Front, a pro-independence group. A U.N.-brokered cease-fire in 1991 established a peacekeeping mission to oversee the truce and facilitate a referendum on the territory's future. However, disagreements about voter eligibility have stalled the referendum process. The Polisario Front resumed armed conflict in 2020, ending a 29-year period of peace.
The escalating tensions surrounding Western Sahara have also impacted relations between Morocco and its neighbor, Algeria. Diplomatic ties between the two countries were severed in 2021, further complicating the regional dynamics.
