'Israel' recognizes sovereignty of Morocco over Western Sahara: Rabat

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
17 Jul 2023 21:39

In a letter, Israeli occupation PM Benjamin Netanyahu says the decision would be transmitted to the United Nations.

Moroccan soldier on guard duty near a road between Morocco and Mauritania in Guerguerat, Western Sahara, on November 23, 2020 (AFP)

The Moroccan Royal Office announced on Monday that the Israeli occupation recognized the sovereignty of Morocco over Western Sahara, state-run Moroccan news agency MAP reported.

According to the news agency, Moroccan King Mohammed VI received a letter from Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in which the latter announced "Israel's" decision to "recognize the sovereignty of Morocco over the territory of Western Sahara."

In his letter, Netanyahu indicated that the decision would be "transmitted to the United Nations, to regional and international organizations of which Israel is a member, and to all countries with which Israel maintains diplomatic relations."

The normalization agreement between the Israeli occupation entity and Morocco was signed in December 2020 under former US President Donald Trump’s administration. One of the key components of the agreement was that Washington declare the Western Sahara as part of Morocco, which was ratified by Trump.

Since then, Israeli companies and manufacturing facilities extended their business outreach across Western Sahara, signaling a joint effort between "Tel Aviv" and Rabat to integrate the region's economic system and trade market with that of Morocco and expand "Israel's" influence and industrial complex into Africa.

It is noteworthy that Western Sahara used to be a Spanish colony rich in phosphate and enjoying access to Atlantic fishing waters. In 1975, Morocco annexed part of the region – a region indigenous to the Sahrawi people – and its entirety in 1979.

Few have accepted these actions: today, 82 countries recognize Western Sahara’s independence, while only the United States and the Israeli occupation recognize Moroccan sovereignty over the land.