Israel and Morocco have agreed to strengthen their diplomatic relationship, with the Israeli government approving a proposal to upgrade ties between the two countries.
The move builds on the normalization agreement reached in 2020, when Morocco and Israel restored official relations under a US-brokered arrangement.
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Israel and Morocco have since expanded cooperation in several areas, including trade, technology, tourism, agriculture and security. Their relationship has also included agreements covering defence and intelligence cooperation.
The latest decision follows years of efforts to deepen the relationship. In 2021, the two countries discussed upgrading their diplomatic missions and moving toward full embassy-level representation.
Morocco remains an important partner for Israel in North Africa, while Rabat has maintained its own diplomatic positions on regional issues, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the disputed Western Sahara.
Israel formally recognized Morocco's claim to sovereignty over Western Sahara in 2023, a move that further strengthened bilateral relations.
The relationship has nevertheless faced opposition inside Morocco, particularly over Israel's military actions in Gaza and broader disagreements concerning the Palestinian issue. Demonstrations against normalization have taken place in Morocco in recent years.
The Israeli government's decision signals another step toward closer official relations, although the practical details of the upgrade and its implementation will depend on further diplomatic arrangements between the two governments.
The development comes as Israel continues to expand its diplomatic and economic relationships across the region, while Morocco seeks to maintain its longstanding regional and international partnerships.