To US: Israel also recognizes Morocco’s claim to Western Sahara Four people shot dead in Georgia – alleged gunman dead

In a major political victory for Morocco, Israel has recognized the North African state’s claim to the disputed territory of Western Sahara – its second country after the US. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has King Mohammed VI. announced the decision in a letter, the royal court announced in Rabat on Monday evening.

The decision will now feed into “all relevant Israeli government actions and documents,” the state agency MAP quoted from the letter. The Israeli government confirmed the recognition shortly afterwards.

Israel will now communicate the decision to the United Nations and other international organizations, it said. Western Sahara, claimed by Morocco, was a Spanish colony until 1975. After Spain left, Morocco annexed several parts of the territory. Since then, Rabat has controlled large parts of the sparsely populated but resource-rich desert area. The Frente Polisario movement strives for an independent state in Western Sahara and is supported by Algeria. Again and again there are skirmishes between Polisario and the Moroccan army.

The move follows diplomatic rapprochement between Morocco and Israel a few years ago. Both Morocco and Sudan followed Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates in 2020, normalizing relations with Israel. As part of the agreement with Morocco, then US President Donald Trump confirmed in December 2020, shortly before the end of his term, that the US would recognize its claim to sovereignty over Western Sahara. For the rest, Morocco’s claim has not yet been recognized internationally. (sda/dpa)