Israel offers support to Morocco over Western Sahara after summit

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid. Israel on Monday voiced support for Morocco's autonomy proposal for Western Sahara after the countries' foreign ministers met at an Israel-Arab summit. Picture: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun.

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid. Israel on Monday voiced support for Morocco's autonomy proposal for Western Sahara after the countries' foreign ministers met at an Israel-Arab summit. Picture: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun.

Published Mar 29, 2022

Share

Jerusalem - Israel on Monday voiced support for Morocco's autonomy proposal for Western Sahara after the countries' foreign ministers met at an Israel-Arab summit.

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid hosted counterparts from four Arab countries in southern Israel. Following his meeting with Nasser Bourita from Morocco, Lapid issued a statement that the countries would work together to counter "attempts to weaken Moroccan sovereignty and territorial integrity".

Morocco considers Western Sahara its own but an Algeria-backed independence movement demands a sovereign state. Rabat says its 2007 proposal to offer Western Sahara autonomy within Morocco is the most it can propose as a political solution to the conflict.

Lapid lauded a recent decision by Spain to support Morocco's autonomy plan, calling it "a positive development".

Morocco agreed in 2020 to normalise ties with Israel under the so-called Abraham Accords that were brokered by the United States. As part of the deal, and in a departure from long-standing US policy, then-President Donald Trump agreed to recognise Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara.

Morocco's foreign minister said on Monday his presence alongside three Arab counterparts at an Israeli-hosted summit was the "best response" to attacks such as an Islamic State-linked shooting spree in Israel, which he condemned as terrorism.

"Our presence today is, I think, the best response to such attacks," Nasser Bourita said in remarks to reporters.

Related Video:

Reuters