Citing a letter from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the royal office in Rabat announced Monday “the State of Israel’s decision to recognize Morocco’s sovereignty”, and its looking into opening a consulate in Dakhla, a town in the Moroccan part of the occupied region.

Free Sahara (Photo: Equipe.Media)

Israel’s chief of military staff also announced Monday the appointment of the country’s first-ever military attaché to Morocco: Colonel Sharon Itah, who should be in the position in the next few months, according to the army spokesperson.

The Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony was occupied by Morocco in 1975 and has significant offshore oil reserves and mineral resources. Its indigenous population has fiercely rejected Moroccan control, however, and between 1975 and 1991, the Polisario Front fought an insurgency against Rabat’s presence. Polisario has repeatedly accused Morocco of exploiting the region’s natural resources while half of its population awaits a referendum in refugee camps and in exile. 

Last month delegation of 12 soldiers and commanders from the Israeli infantry brigade Golani take part in the African Lion 2023 military drill in Morocco, marking Israel’s first-ever participation, in the US Africa Command’s (AFRICOM) largest annual combined, joint exercise. African Lion 2023 started on May 13th and ended on June 18th.

Related: https://maki.org.il/en/?p=31050