version française
The Tel Aviv-Rabat plane carried the three flags (photo: DR)
MOROCCO / ISRAEL. As expected, Jared Kushner was on board the first direct commercial flight between Tel Aviv and Rabat operated by El Al. The presence of Donald Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser remains symbolic of the rapprochement between Israel and Morocco acquired in reciprocity of the American recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara. Especially since a delegation of Israeli officials will also travel to formalize this new agreement and initial several bilateral agreements in the fields of tourism, industry, economy.
The plane carried a hand of fatma, the three Israeli, Moroccan and American flags and the word "peace" in the three languages.
Currently, Morocco welcomes between 50,000 and 70,000 Israeli tourists, mainly Jews of Moroccan origin. Nadia Fettah, Moroccan Minister of Tourism, plans to receive 200,000 in the coming years. New routes between the two countries, operated by El Al, Royal Air Maroc, Israir Airlines and Arkia, will be unveiled soon.
Diplomatic relations between Morocco and Israel had been at a standstill since 2000 and the closure of a Moroccan liaison office (in the absence of an embassy) in Israel after the second intifada in the Palestinian territories.
The plane carried a hand of fatma, the three Israeli, Moroccan and American flags and the word "peace" in the three languages.
Currently, Morocco welcomes between 50,000 and 70,000 Israeli tourists, mainly Jews of Moroccan origin. Nadia Fettah, Moroccan Minister of Tourism, plans to receive 200,000 in the coming years. New routes between the two countries, operated by El Al, Royal Air Maroc, Israir Airlines and Arkia, will be unveiled soon.
Diplomatic relations between Morocco and Israel had been at a standstill since 2000 and the closure of a Moroccan liaison office (in the absence of an embassy) in Israel after the second intifada in the Palestinian territories.
Israel will close its borders
Jared Kushner, the architect of the American peace plan for the Middle East, is also expected to sign several texts. The Moroccan press mentions, in particular, a contract for the sale of $1 billion (€800,000) of American weapons to Morocco. But also the opening of a U.S. consulate in Western Sahara.
This aerial inauguration comes at a time when Benjamin Netanyahu plans to prohibit the entry of his country, "as soon as possible" to all foreign visitors. The Israeli Prime Minister has just launched, Monday, December 21, 2020 by receiving the very first injection, the vaccination program for the general public against Covid-19. Already since Sunday, December 20, 2020, nationals of the United Kingdom, Denmark and South Africa can no longer enter Israel. "The viral mass entering Israel must be reduced as much as possible while the UK is trying to find out what (this mutation) really is, and whether it is resistant to the vaccine. Therefore, I asked to replicate what we did during the first wave of coronavirus, which was to close the sky as quickly as possible," said Benjamin Netanyahu.
This aerial inauguration comes at a time when Benjamin Netanyahu plans to prohibit the entry of his country, "as soon as possible" to all foreign visitors. The Israeli Prime Minister has just launched, Monday, December 21, 2020 by receiving the very first injection, the vaccination program for the general public against Covid-19. Already since Sunday, December 20, 2020, nationals of the United Kingdom, Denmark and South Africa can no longer enter Israel. "The viral mass entering Israel must be reduced as much as possible while the UK is trying to find out what (this mutation) really is, and whether it is resistant to the vaccine. Therefore, I asked to replicate what we did during the first wave of coronavirus, which was to close the sky as quickly as possible," said Benjamin Netanyahu.
