Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu MORE on Friday invited Moroccan King Mohammed VI to visit the Jewish state as the two countries strengthen their new diplomatic relations.
Netanyahu’s office said the two leaders had a “warm and friendly” conversation in which the invitation was made.
“The leaders congratulated each other on renewing ties between the countries, signing the joint statement with the US and the agreements between the two countries,” Netanyahu’s office said.
“In addition, the processes and mechanisms to implement the agreements were determined,” he added.
The talk comes after the Trump administration struck a peace deal between the two countries. Israel and Morocco have long had informal ties.
Senior adviser to the White House Jared Kushner
Jared Corey Kushner Pompeo: US establish diplomatic post in disputed Western Sahara Kushner flies first commercial flight between Israel and Morocco GOP senator on Trump pardon: ‘This is rotten to the core’ MORE flew aboard the first direct commercial flight from Israel to Morocco this week.
King Mohammed’s office said in a statement Friday that he “recalled the strong and special ties between Morocco’s Jewish community and the Moroccan monarchy” and “welcomed the resurgence of cooperation mechanisms between the Kingdom of Morocco and the State of Israel.”
Morocco was the fourth-majority Arab country to make peace with Israel this year, after the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan.
The Trump administration recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara as part of the deal.
Muslim countries have long resisted establishing ties with Israel as long as there is no agreement with the Palestinians on establishing their own state. However, shifting regional alliances with Israel and the Gulf states against Iran have confused traditional Middle Eastern calculus.
In his statement, King Mohammed’s office said that he “reiterated the consistent, unshakable and unchanged position of the Kingdom of Morocco on the Palestinian question and the Kingdom’s pioneering role in promoting peace and stability in the Middle East.”
Updated at 5:21 PM