Trump announces Israel-Morocco normalization deal
Under the deal, the United States will also recognize disputed Western Sahara as Moroccan territory.
Israel and Morocco will establish full diplomatic relations, President Donald Trump announced Thursday, as part of a deal that includes US recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the long-disputed Western Sahara.
Morocco is now the fourth Arab country to recognize Israel in recent months, following the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan. According to the White House, Trump finalized the deal in a phone call with Morocco’s King Mohammed VI on Thursday.
“Another HISTORIC breakthrough today! Our two GREAT friends Israel and the Kingdom of Morocco have agreed to full diplomatic relations — a massive breakthrough for peace in the Middle East!” Trump tweeted.
The United States' recognition of Rabat’s claim to Western Sahara breaks with longstanding US policy and deals a major blow to the Polisario Front independence movement that has long fought for control of the territory.
