Israel and Morocco have agreed to take another step toward full diplomatic relations by opening embassies in their respective countries.
The decision followed a meeting in New York involving senior diplomats from both countries and the US ambassador to the United Nations.
Agreement Follows 2020 Normalisation
Morocco and Israel restored formal diplomatic ties in 2020 as part of the Abraham Accords, a US-led initiative that brought Israel closer to several Arab states.
Since then, the two countries have expanded cooperation in several areas.
At Wednesday’s meeting, both sides agreed to upgrade their diplomatic missions to the level of embassies.
They also agreed to appoint ambassadors to represent their countries.
US Welcomes Stronger Relations
A joint statement issued through the US mission to the United Nations described full diplomatic and friendly relations between Israel and Morocco as being in the common interest of both countries.
The statement also said stronger ties could support efforts to promote peace.
However, neither side announced when the embassies would officially open.
Previous Embassy Plan
The latest announcement is not the first time Israel and Morocco have discussed establishing embassies.
A similar announcement was made in June 2022 during the visit of then-Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid to Morocco.
The countries have now renewed the commitment as part of broader efforts to deepen their relationship.
Economic Deals Expected
Beyond diplomatic ties, Israel and Morocco said they plan to conclude several economic agreements before the end of 2026.
Israel also announced that high-level reciprocal visits are expected to take place in the coming months.
The developments point to continued efforts by both countries to expand diplomatic and economic cooperation.
