Israel Rejects Algeria’s Accusations Amid Diplomatic Crisis with Morocco

The Algerian "accusations" against Morocco and Israel that led to the rupture of relations between Rabat and Algiers on Tuesday are "unfounded and irrelevant," said an Israeli diplomatic source to AFP. The statements of the head of Israeli diplomacy during his historic visit to Rabat are among the grievances formulated by his Algerian counterpart Ramtane Lamamra to justify the rupture of relations with Morocco. Yaïr Lapid had expressed concern "about the role played by" Algeria "in the region, its rapprochement with Iran and the campaign it has waged against Israel’s admission as an observer member of the African Union."

"What matters are the very good relations between Israel and Morocco, illustrated" by Yaïr Lapid’s recent visit and "the cooperation between the two countries for the benefit of their citizens and the entire region," retorted the Israeli diplomatic source. "Israel and Morocco are an important part of a pragmatic and positive axis in the region facing an axis going in the opposite direction and including Iran and Algeria," it explains.

"We talk to the Moroccans all the time. [...] Algeria should focus on all the problems it is facing, especially the serious economic problems," added this source on condition of anonymity.