Morocco–Israel: Advanced negotiations for the resumption of direct flights

"The talks bring together representatives from the security services and civil aviation authorities of the two states" who "are examining the conditions for a gradual resumption of the connections interrupted for more than a year", indicates the Israeli channel Keshet 12 (Channel 12), recalling that "these flights had generated sustained demand before their suspension, with bookings reaching an almost full occupancy rate".

The suspension followed the decision of the "Israeli National Security Council (NSC) to raise the alert level for Rabat to category 3" due to "concerns about the possible presence of hostile elements on Moroccan territory", according to the Israeli authorities. This had led "the Israeli and Moroccan airlines to interrupt their respective services".

According to the same source, "the Israeli National Security Council currently maintains its recommendation to avoid any non-essential travel to Morocco", but "sources involved in the discussions believe that a revision of this alert level could be considered in the near future". This development "would allow the resumption of tourist and commercial traffic between the two countries".

"The Israeli Minister of Transport [Miri Regev] and the main officials of her department have met with their Moroccan counterparts" and "the two parties have expressed their willingness to restore air links in the near future", assures the same source, specifying that "if no diplomatic or security setback were to hinder the process, direct flights between Morocco and Israel could resume in the coming months".