Morocco-Israel Diplomatic Ties Renewed Amid Regional Tensions, Says Ex-Tunisian Minister

"It is a surprising but courageous decision," he said in an interview with the Tunisian radio station IFM, stressing that it is not negative. According to him, this decision is explained among other things by the change in the geopolitical landscape in the world and in the region. "Faced with a war fueled by those who play with fire (the Algerian military regime), Morocco has tried weapons, negotiations... It has no choice but to move forward," he added, specifying that Algeria has been at war with the kingdom for 45 years.

"The Algerian military regime wanted to impose new borders by force, fueling the logic of the colonial map. It took hundreds of kilometers of the Tunisian Sahara and tried to do the same with Morocco," said the former Tunisian minister, deploring the fact that the entire Maghreb, especially the Algerians, is suffering from this war.

Addressing the impact of this decision, Mr. Ounaies said he is convinced that it would not affect the kingdom’s position on the Palestinian cause. He will recall that Morocco has chaired the Al Quds Committee for more than 40 years. "Morocco is one of its staunchest defenders," he assured. He also pointed out that this decision would not destroy the project of the Maghreb Union. Rather, he denounced the role of Algeria in obstructing it.

In the eyes of the former Tunisian diplomat, the American recognition of the Moroccanness of the Sahara represents an important advance for the kingdom on the part of a country holding the veto right in the UN Security Council. According to him, Morocco is simply trying to defend its sovereignty over its territories, just as they were before colonization.