Israeli Carrier Launches Direct Flight to Morocco
Israeli carrier Israir launched the first direct commercial flight between the Jewish state and Morocco on Sunday since the two states normalized diplomatic relations in a U.S.-brokered deal last year.
About 100 passengers were on the flight that departed from Tel Aviv to Marrakesh, Israir spokeswoman Tali Leibovitz told AFP, adding that two to three flights per week were planned on the route.
Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said last week that he would visit Morocco shortly after the Israir service was launched.
Morocco was one of four regional states to normalize ties with Israel in 2020, along with Bahrain, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates.
The move came as the administration of former U.S. president Donald Trump recognized Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara, a disputed and divided former Spanish colony.
Morocco is home to North Africa's largest Jewish community, which numbers around 3,000. Some 700,000 Jews of Moroccan origin live in Israel.
Rabat had a liaison office in Tel Aviv but relations came to a halt during the 2000-2005 second Palestinian intifada, or uprising.
The normalization deals between Arab states and Israel have been deemed a "betrayal" by the Palestinians, who believe the process should only follow a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
25 July 2021, 12:23
10
Morocco sold their soul for 1 billion dollar and the western Sahara Guaranteed US veto coverage. top make peace with Fascist state of Israel
25 July 2021, 19:23
10
Wake up, its 2021 not 1948.
The world has advanced, you are stuck in fake history.
28 July 2021, 14:55
00
1948 - "so called purchased peace deal"
What the heck are you talking about?
Oh, you mean agricultural and water resources assistance, business contacts and trade, oil, natural gas and oil, tourism, etc.
There are quite a few countries who would like the same "so called purchased peace deals" but their leaders (including Lebanon) are too intimidated by internal terrorist groups to come forward.
