Morocco-Israel: end of the honeymoon?

CEZAYIRLI

Contributor
Messages
1,109
Reactions
1,084
Nation of residence
United States of America
Nation of origin
Algeria

Morocco-Israel: end of the honeymoon?

Maroc-Israël : fin de la lune de miel ?


January 22, 2022 - 9:20 p.m. - Morocco - By: S.A

The absence of David Govrin, head of Israel's liaison office in Morocco, who has not yet presented his credentials to King Mohammed VI at the ceremony for the reception of foreign ambassadors by the sovereign, raises questions. A year after the normalization of diplomatic relations between Morocco and Israel, is the magic of the beginnings beginning to fade?

David Govrin revealed on his Twitter account on October 10 that he had been appointed Israeli ambassador to Morocco, but he has not yet presented his credentials to King Mohammed VI. On Tuesday, the Israeli diplomat was conspicuous by his absence at the ceremony for the reception of foreign ambassadors by the sovereign which took place at the royal palace in Rabat. An absence that raised questions.

To read: David Govrin soon thanked?

Questioned during a press conference last Thursday, Mustapha Baitas, spokesperson for the Moroccan government, tried to justify the absence of the head of Israel's liaison office in Rabat with protocol issues. "To answer the question relating to ambassadors, I can say that Morocco respects the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which governs all the protocols related to this area", he indicated, without give more details.

"Rabat's reluctance on the status of Govrin (Israeli ambassador) is probably due to the indecision of the Biden administration on the recognition by the United States of Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara", he told The New Arab a political scientist on condition of anonymity. “While the Biden administration continues to hesitate to express recognition [of Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara] and to build the promised consulate in Dakhla, Morocco will not go further in normalization nor will it will say more about the actual position of Govrin,” he added.

Read: David Govrin now Israeli ambassador to Morocco

Under the aegis of the United States, Morocco normalized its diplomatic relations with Israel on December 10, 2020 in exchange for American recognition of the kingdom's sovereignty over the Sahara. Morocco controls 80% of the Sahara considered "non-autonomous territory" by the UN and offers a large autonomy under its sovereignty. The Polisario Front, protected by Algeria, is calling for a self-determination referendum.
 

Follow us on social media

Top Bottom