What arms is 'Israel' selling Morocco?
3 Min Read
The Israeli Haaretz newspaper unveils what arms systems the Israeli occupation has sold Morocco over the past few years.
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Israeli Security Minister Benny Gantz with Moroccan Defense Minister Abdellatif Loudiyi after signing an MoU in Rabat on November 24, 2021
Israeli occupation forces Chief of General Staff Aviv Kochavi landed in Morocco on Monday in his first official visit to Rabat since the North African Arab state normalized ties with the occupation in 2020.
"Israel" and Morocco have had covert security ties for decades, the Israeli Haaretz newspaper said.
The occupation's Mossad intelligence agency was operating in Rabat, the newspaper added. After the 1967 war, "Tel Aviv" sold its surplus of French arms and military equipment to Morocco, especially tanks and artillery systems.
According to the Israeli outlet, Israeli military experts went to Morocco to help Rabat against the Polisario Front fighting for the independence of Western Sahara.
Haaretz then went on to report on all the weapons systems "Israel" sold to Morocco over the past few years, from drones to cyberweapons:
IAI Heron and IAI Harop UAVs
In 2014, Morocco signed a $50 million deal for three IAI Heron UAVs from the Israel Aerospace Industries. The drones entered service in the Moroccan army several years ago and were reportedly intended for use against the Polisario Front.
Later on, in November 2021, the Israeli occupation sold an IAI Harop UAV to Morocco. Contrary to all the other unmanned aerial vehicles developed to return to base, the Harop is a loitering munition that self-destructs into its targets.
The sale followed a joint security understandings agreement between Israeli Security Minister Benny Gantz and Moroccan Defense Minister Abd Al-Latif Lodi. The agreement formalized security ties between "Tel Aviv" and Rabat.
Air defense system
The Israel Aerospace Industries was reported as intending to provide Morocco with an integrated air defense system against a wide variety of air threats, such as helicopters, fighter jets, UAVs, and cruise missiles.
"The Gulf is interested in this defense system within the framework of a regional alliance with Israel," Haaretz said.
Security cooperation
Menadefense published in 2018 footage from a police parade in Morocco that showed policemen armed with the Israeli X95 Tavor, a 9mm submachine gun.
Espionage
Rabat and "Tel Aviv" have also been found to be cooperating with the Israeli occupation in the field of espionage and cyberwarfare.
The Israeli NSO Group's Pegasus became a problematic icon of the Israeli offensive cyber industry, Haaretz said. "The sale of Pegasus to Morocco led to a diplomatic row with France after it was revealed that among the targets of the cyberattacks were ministers in Macron's government."
Read next: Morocco likely involved in Pegasus hacking 200+ Spanish mobile numbers
NSO Group had been under fire after an investigation by The Washington Post and 16 media partners found that military-grade spyware leased by NSO Group to governments was used in attempted and successful hacks of 37 smartphones belonging to journalists, human rights activists, and business executives.
Kochavi had pointed out that there were developments in the ties between "Israel" and Morocco, especially after it was agreed that the Israeli occupation forces participate as observers in the international military exercises in Morocco.
"Israeli officers, wearing their military uniforms and the Israeli flag, participated in military exercises in Morocco in June [...] We will exercise together and develop our security and intelligence cooperation," Kochavi said.
