According to a report, Morocco’s secretary of state is urging the new Biden administration to keep a deal by President Trump to establish relations with Israel.
Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita said the deal, struck by Trump in early December, would be a step towards resuming diplomatic relations with Israel, Axios reported Wednesday.
The deal states that Morocco agrees to establish relations with Israel in exchange for the US to recognize Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara territory.
“We hope that the next administration will continue this positive momentum and fuel what we have built as it was done for peace,” Bourita told Axios. “What we have here is a package that has been signed and the first commitment everyone has made was to defend, promote and upgrade this package.”
Morocco and Israel are concerned that the deal would fall apart if President-elect Biden plans to reverse it after taking office in January.
Biden has not publicly stated whether he agrees or disagrees with Trump’s deal.
Trump called the deal a “massive breakthrough” that would bring peace to the Middle East.
“Another HISTORICAL breakthrough today! Our two GREAT friends Israel and the Kingdom of Morocco have agreed to full diplomatic relations – a huge breakthrough for Middle East peace! ” tweeted the president on December 10.
Morocco joins Bahrain, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates to set aside decades of hostilities against Israel in hopes of stabilizing the Middle East and North Africa.