Israel's Minister of Interior and Health visits Morocco to further bilateral cooperation
Through the Abraham Accords in 2020, backed by the United States to formalise relations between Israel and Morocco, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, diplomatic relations between the Moroccan kingdom and the Israelis were established and bilateral relations between the two were strengthened with the signing of numerous agreements in areas such as transport, tourism, health and construction. According to various diplomatic sources, these agreements have led to both countries 'making great progress politically, culturally and economically'. Due to its role as a gateway to Africa, Morocco is well placed to attract Israeli businessmen, which in 2022 led to a 160% increase in trade compared to 2020.
Israel's Minister of Interior and Health, Moshe Arbel, together with the director general of the Ministry and the director of the Population and Immigration Authority concluded their visit to Morocco after meeting with their counterparts to promote bilateral cooperation. Among these is the simplification of visa requirements with the aim of allowing Moroccan workers to come to Israel to be employed in the medical and construction sectors.
The Israeli minister commented on the electronic visa system they are developing to speed up the granting of visas, which they aim to have ready before the end of the year. In 2022, Morocco decided to grant fast-track e-visas to nationals of more than 40 countries, including Israelis, to encourage domestic tourism, resulting in 70,000 Israelis visiting the Kingdom in 2022 and some 2,900 Moroccans visiting Jerusalem, with 200,000 Israelis expected to arrive in Morocco this year.
"Israel and Morocco share health challenges and cooperation in this field will go a long way in improving the medical care and health capabilities of citizens." Arbel signed a memorandum of understanding with Moroccan Health Minister Khalid Ait Taleb in the area of health through which they pledge to cooperate in all matters related to innovative medical technology, genetics, preparedness for future epidemics, non-communicable diseases, etc.
This visit is one of many that Israel is making to Morocco, including sending a delegation of Israeli troops to take part in a US military drill on Moroccan soil called "African Lion", which is also taking place in Tunisia and Senegal. Israeli troops only took part in the drill in Morocco alongside troops from 18 African nations amid heightened tensions in the Maghreb over disputes over the sovereignty of Western Sahara. On this issue, the Speaker of the Knesset (Israeli legislature), Amir Ohana, declared during his visit to the Alawi kingdom together with Israel's National Security Advisor that "serious discussions are taking place between the countries and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will announce his decisions in the near future".
