Mohammad Ayesh
Middle East Eye / January 22, 2021
Morocco delays implementation of Israel deal.
Morocco is waiting to see Joe Biden’s position on the question of its sovereignty over Western Sahara before proceeding with the normalisation agreement with Israel, the Arabic Post reports.
According to anonymous sources, Morocco wants to see the US consulate in the desert city of Dakhla opened before it begins direct flights between Tel Aviv and Casablanca and other elements of the deal.
The sources pointed out that the joint declaration between Morocco, the US and Israel stipulated that each party would fully implement its obligations before the end of January 2021.
However, Israel has not opened liaison offices in Morocco, no direct flights between the two parties were resumed, and the United States’ consulate has not been inaugurated.
The deal was brokered by Biden’s predecessor Donald Trump in return for US recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara. Sahrawi political representatives have demanded a referendum on independence based on UN resolutions.
Biden has not made his view on the matter clear.
Mohammad Ayesh is an Arab journalist currently based in London
