Morocco Maintains Neutral Stance on US Middle East Peace Plan, Prioritizes Sahara Issue

The statements of the head of Moroccan diplomacy in the parliament, during the session approving the draft laws relating to the delimitation of Moroccan territorial waters, reflect the country’s position on the American peace plan.

While welcoming the American initiative, the Minister of Foreign Affairs specified that "Morocco starts from the principle of the existence of an American initiative", adding that "any initiative must be positive, without depriving the Palestinians, the only ones entitled to refuse it, of their legitimate rights".

"The Kingdom’s appreciation of the peace efforts deployed by the Trump administration stems from the fact that, for the first time, Washington is proposing a solution to the two States", underlined Nasser Bourita, who recommends a rather moderate attitude to the Advisors. "We must not be more Palestinian than the Palestinians themselves," he said.

In response to the scathing criticism of the parliamentary deputies of the Party of Justice and Development on the priority of Moroccan diplomacy, the minister was crystal clear: "The priority file of Moroccan diplomacy is the Moroccan Sahara".

Bourita was also questioned about the rumors in the Israeli press, concerning the tripartite pact between Morocco, the United States and Israel, aimed at forcing the kingdom to normalize its relations with the Hebrew state in exchange for the official recognition, by the United States, of its sovereignty over the Sahara.

While acknowledging having heard the information broadcast by the 13th Israeli television channel, the Minister of Foreign Affairs refrained from commenting, as long as the matter does not come from an official source.