Rabat and Tel Aviv sign an aerospace agreement
Since the normalization of relations with Israel at the end of 2020, the North African kingdom has been pushing for closer economic, political and cultural ties with Tel Aviv. “The sky is the limit,” said the Moroccan foreign minister on the anniversary of the Abraham Accords.
According to Spanish media, Israel plans to build a military base near Melilla. [Getty]
Morocco and Israel sign A memorandum of cooperation in the aerospace industry was announced on Wednesday, as the two countries aspire to strengthen their year-old relationship after normalizing ties at the end of 2020.
The signing ceremony took place in Rabat in the presence of Ryad Mezzur, Moroccan Minister of Industry and Trade, and Amir Peretz, director of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and former Israeli Minister of Defence.
The deal will provide Morocco with high-tech Israeli security equipment, while Rabat and Tel Aviv aim to cooperate in operational planning, research and development in the aerospace industry.
“Israel and Morocco are now entering a new phase of strategic and economic cooperation,” said Minister of Industry and Trade Ryad Mezzur.
On the sidelines of the ceremony, Mezzur told the media that this inaugurated partnership is built on “shared values”, addressing the Moroccan roots of Amir Peretz, the director of the IAI.
وقعت اليوم مع السيد عمير بيرتس, رئيس مجلس الصنارة شركة الصناعات الفضائية الإسرائيلية الإسرائيلية (Israel Aerospace Industries), على مذكرة تفاهم في قطاع صناعة الطيران pic.twitter.com/87NhTQzl31
— Ryad Mezzour | رياض مزّور (@MezzourR) March 23, 2022
Amir Peretz, who served as Israel’s defense minister from 2006 to 2007, also expressed his joy at being back in his native Morocco.
“The partnership with Morocco will be strengthened in the years to come,” added Peretz.
In February, Rabat signed a purchase agreement with IAI, worth $500 million, to acquire the “Barak-MX”, an advanced air and missile defense system.
Last year, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz signed a memorandum of understanding on security and military training with his Moroccan counterpart during his visit to Rabat. No other details were shared about the deal.
Meanwhile, Spanish media reported that Israel planned to build a military base near Melilla, in partnership with Morocco.
Since the normalization of relations with Israel at the end of 2020, the North African kingdom has been pushing for closer economic, political and cultural ties with Tel Aviv. “The sky is the limit,” said Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita on the anniversary of the Abraham Accords.
Rabat and Tel-Aviv are now linked by direct flights, cultural activities and student exchanges. Besides Israel’s defense minister, Tel Aviv’s foreign and trade ministers have both visited Rabat in recent months, as Moroccan officials continue to promise visits to Tel Aviv ‘soon’ .