The Israeli state proposes to recognise Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara as a condition for holding the Negev Summit

Negev Summit: in the hands of the Israeli recognition of Western Sahara

JACQUELYN MARTIN/POOL/AP PHOTO - The panel discussion at the opening of the Negev Summit (clockwise from left) Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid with U.S. Secretary of State, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani in Sde Boker, Israel, Monday, March 28, 2022

Marina Coronado

04 de julio de 2023 (13:39 h.)

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The Moroccan government decided at the end of June to cancel the hosting of the Negev Summit due to Israel's decision regarding settlement plans in the West Bank area. This summit was initially planned for March, since then there have been several postponements, also made by the US government, which also opposed Tel Aviv's settlement plans.

Following this, the Israeli government announced on Monday 3 July that it is ready to recognise Morocco's sovereignty over the territory of Western Sahara if Morocco is willing to host the Negev Summit and not postpone it again.

The Negev Forum serves as a normalisation of relations between Israel and Arab countries. Within the framework of the Abraham Accords, the forum discusses issues related to regional security and economic cooperation. Among the countries represented at the summit are Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.

According to Reuters, "diplomatic sources have said Morocco could establish full relations with Israel, with its existing mid-level diplomatic missions reused as embassies, in exchange for Israeli recognition of Morocco's claim". Israel has decided to make its final decision on the recognition of Western Sahara during the Negev Forum, thus expecting the event to take place in September or October.

On the other hand, Morocco expects the Israeli government to cease tensions in the West Bank territories, emphasising the use of dialogue as an end to the Palestinian-Israeli dispute.

PHOTO/FILE - Flags of Israel and Morocco.

Regarding the normalisation of relations between Israel and Morocco, the Abraham Accords, which were brokered by the Trump administration and resulted in four Arab states normalising ties with Israel, were the framework within which relations between Morocco and Israel were established in December 2020. The normalisation of Moroccan-Israeli relations has created new possibilities for collaboration in various fields, including trade, tourism, culture, security and defence. In November 2021, Morocco and Israel signed their first defence agreement, which lays the groundwork for intelligence sharing, joint projects and arms sales Morocco and Israel also share common interests and challenges in the region, such as countering Iran's influence, promoting stability in North Africa and the Mediterranean, and advancing the peace process with the Palestinians.

Morocco's proposal for Western Sahara is an initiative put forward by Morocco in 2006 as a possible solution to the Saharawi conflict. It would grant autonomy to the people of Western Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty, while Morocco would control defence and foreign affairs. The proposal has been recognised as "serious and credible" by the UN Security Council and has received the support of influential countries such as the United States, Germany, the United Arab Emirates and Spain. Israeli acceptance of this proposal would mean the full establishment of diplomatic relations and would raise the possibility of the opening of the Moroccan embassy in Tel Aviv.