Morocco receives visit from Israeli Foreign Minister
Israeli tourists disembark in Marrakech on July 25, 2021 on the first direct commercial flight between Israel and Morocco.
Drawing.
AFP - FADEL SENNA
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The head of Israeli diplomacy Yaïd Lapid arrived in Rabat this Wednesday, August 11 for an official two-day trip.
This is a new step in the normalization of diplomatic relations between the Hebrew state and the Shereefian kingdom.
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This visit was foreseeable since January after the appointment of the former Israeli Ambassador to Egypt, David Govrin, as Chargé d'Affaires in Rabat.
He will therefore be at the head of this diplomatic mission, the reopening of which has been awaited for 20 years after its closure during the second intifada, the Palestinian uprising.
The last visit of a head of the Hebrew state diplomacy dates back 18 years, it was then the Minister of Foreign Affairs Silvan Shalom.
The two countries normalized their relations eight months ago, under the leadership of the administration of former US President Donald Trump, by signing a Morocco-US-Israel tripartite declaration in Rabat on December 22, 2020.
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To read also: Israel-Morocco normalization: historical event or cynical exploitation
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The largest Jewish community in North Africa
This highly symbolic representation should work to consolidate bilateral relations in areas such as tourism, economy, health and culture.
Because Morocco is home to the largest Jewish community in North Africa.
Today, an estimated 3,000 Jews live in the country, while around 700,000 Jews of Moroccan origin live in Israel.
The next step should therefore be the opening of a Moroccan liaison office in Tel Aviv.
During this visit, Israeli Foreign Minister Yaïr Lapid will also meet his counterpart Nasser Bourita, with whom he is expected to sign three cooperation and trade agreements.
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Read also: The first direct commercial flight between Israel and Morocco landed in Marrakech
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