Rabat, Morocco – (African Boulevard News) – Israel and Morocco have signed parliamentary deals aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two countries. The agreements were signed during the first visit of an Israeli parliamentary head, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, to Morocco.
The visit, however, was not well received by all Moroccans. Demonstrators gathered outside the Moroccan parliament in Rabat to protest against the visit. The protest was organized by a coalition of Moroccan political parties, trade unions, and civil society groups who were against the normalization of ties between Morocco and Israel.
The deals were signed between the Israel-Morocco Friendship Group and the Moroccan-Israeli Parliamentary Friendship Committee. The agreements aim to enhance cooperation between the two parliaments and explore ways to promote economic, cultural, and social ties between Israel and Morocco.
Speaking about the deals, Ohana said, “We are here to build bridges of cooperation between our two parliaments and our two peoples. Our goal is to deepen our friendship and to strengthen our shared values of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.”
Moroccan MP Abdellatif Ouahbi, who heads the parliamentary committee that signed the deals, said, “This visit is a step towards strengthening the relationship between our two countries. We hope that it will lead to increased cooperation in various fields, including trade, investment, and tourism.”
The signing of the parliamentary deals comes after the normalization of ties between Israel and Morocco in December 2020. The move was part of a series of agreements between Israel and several Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Sudan, brokered by the United States.
The normalization of ties sparked protests in Morocco, with many Moroccans expressing their opposition to the move. However, the Moroccan government defended its decision, saying it would bring economic benefits to the country and help advance the peace process in the Middle East.
In conclusion, the signing of the parliamentary deals between Israel and Morocco marks another step towards strengthening ties between the two countries. While the visit by the Israeli parliamentary head was met with protests in some quarters, the agreements are expected to promote economic, cultural, and social cooperation between Israel and Morocco.
