King Mohammed VI of Morocco has lauded Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu’s decision of recognising sovereignty of Morocco over Sahara and his plans of opening Israel consulate in the city of Dakhla in north African country.
“I would like to express my sincere thanks and deep appreciation for your letter informing me of the State of Israel’s decision to recognise the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Morocco over its Sahara, and to favourably consider the opening of a Consulate in the city of Dakhla.”
“The Moroccan people and the driving forces of the country have warmly welcomed this decision,” the statement reads.
The Moroccan Sahara issue is described by the King as “the national cause of the Kingdom and is the priority of our foreign policy,” and he adds that “your important decision is both just and farsighted.”the King emphasised
The Sovereign states that “it is just in that it reaffirms Morocco’s legal entitlement to, and irrefutable historical rights over, its Saharan Provinces,” noting that “the definite jurisdiction of the Moroccan State and the legal ties of allegiance which have existed, since time immemorial, between the Kings of Morocco and the Moroccan populations inhabiting these territories – which have always been so dear to Morocco’s Monarchs – are both well-established and unshakeable
“Your decision is also far-sighted because it is in line with the irreversible international dynamic that has seen many countries, from all parts of the world, backing a final solution to this anachronistic regional dispute, on the basis of the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative for the Sahara region, within the framework of the Kingdom’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” continues His Majesty the King.
The Sovereign also recalls that since December 2020, bilateral relations between the Kingdom of Morocco and the State of Israel have gone from strength to strength in all sectors.
“The momentum characterising our ties is unprecedented, be it in terms of the exchange of visits by officials and the business community, the development of the bilateral framework, the diversification of our cooperation or the consolidation of trade relations,” notes His Majesty the King, welcoming the fact that the deep human bonds that exist between the Kingdom of Morocco and the State of Israel – notably through the Jewish community of Moroccan origin – have been serving as a catalyst.
The Sovereign expresses his confidence that the clear position taken by Mr. Netanyahu, on behalf of the State of Israel, regarding the Moroccanness of the Sahara “will contribute to closer ties between Morocco and Israel,” assuring him of His firm and unwavering commitment.
“As I indicated during our telephone conversation on 25 December 2020, you are welcome to visit Morocco on a mutually agreed date, to be determined through diplomatic channels,” His Majesty the King stresses in the message.
In this context, the Sovereign affirms that this meeting “will open up new possibilities for bilateral relations between Morocco and Israel” and “will also be an opportunity to promote the prospects of peace for all peoples in the region, bearing in mind the content of the Tripartite Declaration signed on 22 December 2020 by the Kingdom of Morocco, the United States of America and the State of Israel, including the principles which should guide the settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”
The King also welcomed the fact that the strong human ties that exist between the Kingdom of Morocco and the State of Israel, particularly through the Jewish population of Moroccan ancestry, who have been acting as a catalyst for the strengthening of trade relations.
The Sovereign expresses his conviction that Mr. Netanyahu’s forthright stance on the Moroccanness of the Sahara, adopted on behalf of the State of Israel, “will contribute to closer ties between Morocco and Israel,” assuring him of His steadfast and unshakable commitment.
The King welcomed Israel PM for a state visit in Morocco on a mutually agreed date, to be determined through diplomatic channels, they had earlier discussed via telephone on December 25, 2020.
In this regard, the Sovereign states that this meeting “will open up new possibilities for bilateral relations between Morocco and Israel” and “will also be an opportunity to promote the prospects of peace for all peoples in the region, bearing in mind the content of the Tripartite Declaration signed on 22 December 2020 by the Kingdom of Morocco, the United States of America, and the State of Israel, including the principles which should guide the settlement of the Isra dispute.”
King Mohammed VI’s response comes barely days after Netenyahu’s letter in which he supported the need for Morocco’s sovereignty over Sahara region and plans of strengthening the ties between the two states .
Israel is the latest country to support Morocco’s plan of sovereignty and control over the Sahara besides Italy,Switzerland,Malta,Germany,Burkina Faso, and Serbia and other African countries.
