Morocco Normalizes Ties with Israel as US Recognizes Sahara Claim

"I was surprised by the announcement of the normalization of relations between Israel and Morocco by Donald Trump on Thursday, given the time it took before this decision was made," reports the AFP. Discussing the reasons for this decision, Mr. Maddy-Weitzman said that the Moroccans quickly concluded the agreement, due to the arrival of a new administration in Washington. Moreover, the development of the Abraham Accords makes the task easy for Morocco, which is part of the club of monarchies. Thus, "from the Moroccan point of view, this is a gift from a departing Trump administration and a gift central to Morocco’s national identity and its foreign policy priority since the mid-1970s: the Western Sahara," he stressed.

For the specialist, it is a transaction, even if the Moroccans do not use the word "normalization" and it will improve Morocco’s image in the West as a liberal, open country that values its Jewish heritage. Furthermore, with the United States’ recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara, the situation has changed completely, as Morocco has something to gain.

Maddy-Weitzman believes that France did not play any role in this affair. "I don’t think they will follow the Americans in recognizing Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara," since the French must preserve their ties with Algeria through its support for the Polisario Front. And "that’s why I think they were probably not involved," he concluded.