In Morocco, the rapprochement with Israel continues in particular on the economic level with a 32% increase in trade between the two countries just last year. This follows the restoration of relations via the Abraham accords in December 2020, but Rabat announced on Friday the postponement of the Negev forum, supposed to bring together the Muslim countries that have signed these accords. A postponement officially justified by the “violence in the West Bank”.
With our correspondent in Nador, Victor Mauriat
Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Morocco, United States and Israel… These are the six countries which were to participate this summer on Moroccan soil in the second Negev forum after the one organized in Israel in December 2022. This gathering which symbolizes the resumption of relations between the Jewish state and several Muslim countries under the leadership of Washington, will therefore not take place in July as announced last week.
In question according to the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the announcements of the Israeli government on the prosecution acts of colonization in the occupied West Bank. Morocco is regularly criticized for its rapprochement with Israel, because in addition to being a Muslim country, its king Mohammed VI chairs the al-Quds committee for the defense of Jerusalem.
The subject of Western Sahara
The fact that Rabat denounces as a reason for postponing the forum the acts of colonization on the Palestinian territory is therefore a strong message sent to Israel, while at the same time the kingdom urges Tel Aviv to recognize “Moroccanness”. of Western Sahara. A very sensitive subject for Morocco, which intended to organize the Negev forum in Dahkla, one of the main cities of this disputed region.
Nasser Bourita, the head of Moroccan diplomacy, however declared that Morocco was ready to host the forum at the start of the school year, when the political context will be “ favorable “.
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