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February 22nd, 2022 
Awake Goy 
Israeli officials are slated to sign a deal with Morocco in order to increase economic ties between Rabat and Tel Aviv, which have continued to grow since the signing of a normalization deal between the two in 2020. At what cost does this close relationship with Israel come for the Kingdom of Morocco?
Israel’s Economy Minister, Orna Barbivai, began her official visit to Morocco this Sunday, pledging to increase economic ties between the two and stating that “Despite the existing trade ties and the Israeli industry that exists in Morocco, the scope of economic cooperation is limited in relation to the potential, which if realized will significantly contribute to the economic welfare and growth of both countries”.
Although bilateral trade between Tel Aviv and Rabat has been relatively small in scale — $131 million in 2021 — the future may hold greater economic opportunities for both sides. Yet, for a country that is taking such an unpopular move — normalizing ties and tightening them — with both its own population and that of peoples throughout the MENA [Middle East North Africa] region, is it perhaps testing its luck and adding to the fuel of a fire already burning with its neighbor Algeria?
Since Morocco signed onto the so-called “Abraham Accords”, which as a result of both US and Emirati pressure surrounding its signing, tensions with neighboring Algeria have not stopped.
Why are Israel-Morocco relations so detrimental?
Prior to the normalisation deal’s signing, the UAE was accused by Morocco of backing its enemy, the Polisario Front, which seeks to gain full control of the Western Sahara area, from Rabat, as an independent state. The UAE then did a sudden one-eighty and became to first Arab country to install a consulate inside Western Sahara, officially held by Morocco. On top of this, the UAE pledged 2 billion in investments into projects, including port facilities in Morocco’s southern neighbor Mauritania. Rabat felt that this directly threatened its own Dakhla Port and Tangier Med projects.
Less than a month after the sudden shift in the UAE-Morocco relationship, Polisario declared the end of the near 30 year ceasefire with Morocco. Then, when it came time for the normalization deal, what was placed on the table by the United States as an incentive for Rabat to sign with Tel Aviv? Washington’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara, breaking from the international consensus.
Why is all this relevant? Well, because Algeria is the number one financier, arms supplier, of Polisario and hosts its leadership. Since the relationship between Israel and Morocco was declared, Algeria has accused Israel, with a North African country [assumed to be Morocco], of backing a plot to launch a terrorist attack against Algiers. Morocco was also accused in November of killing three Algerians in a drone-strike. In addition to this accusation of foreign interference by Morocco, in conjunction with Israel, have led to a direct deterioration in ties between the two neighboring States. Morocco denies most of these allegations.
In August of 2021, diplomatic ties were severed between Algeria and Morocco, which Algeria’s foreign minister claimed were down to “massive and systematic acts of espionage” carried out by Rabat with Israeli NSO technology. Israeli politicians, such as Israel’s Defence Minister Benny Gantz, have also criticized Algiers during their visits to Morocco. Algeria also ended its gas supply to Morocco last year, placing huge pressure on the north African kingdom.
Ultimately, the issue of direct military contact between Polisario — backed by Algeria — over Western Sahara, coupled with accusations of dual Israeli-Moroccan espionage and even plotting of terrorist attacks, has been extremely detrimental for the relationship between the two-sides. It is clear that the United States, Israel, the UAE and others have all been part of creating a breakdown in ties between Algiers and Rabat. Of course the onus is not all on outside influence, but this has most certainly made things worse than they were before. According to Zine Labidine Ghebouli, at the Middle East Institute, what is happening between the two sides may constitute a North African ‘Cold War’.
So, for Morocco, without popular support from its people, who overwhelmingly stand against normalization with Israel and for the Palestinians, is it worth it to grow even closer to Tel Aviv? At the very least, the pro-Israel stance of the Kingdom’s leadership is not helping its case in the event of an armed escalation with its neighbor. There is no way of knowing how deep the rabbit hole goes, when it comes to the alleged Israeli-Moroccan attacks on Algiers, but one thing is for sure, and that is that since they signed onto the so-called Abraham Accords, war has only ever loomed closer.
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