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Formalization of normalization?

Less than a year after agreeing to “normalize” their relations, this was a significant step forward, capped by the inauguration of Israel’s liaison mission in Rabat. Lapid also announced that within two months the countries’ plan to open fully-fledged embassies, rather than liaison offices – “formalization of normalization.”
Looking ahead, they signed a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of a consultation mechanism between their foreign ministries, even though it was unclear how they would use it.
Israel and Morocco agreed last November to resume diplomatic relations and re-launch direct flights under a deal brokered by President Donald Trump. As a key part of this brazenly transactional agreement, the US became the first country to recognize Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, about which there has been a 40-year dispute with the Algerian-backed Polisario Front that seeks to establish an independent state in the territory. Over 80 countries have recognized the Saharan Arab Democratic Republic.
So far there is little sign that Joe Biden’s very different administration is going to backtrack on Trump’s “dirty deal,” as critics describe it. “There is no change in the US position,” Joey Hood, the acting assistant secretary of state for near eastern affairs, said on a recent visit to Rabat. “Where you may see a change is in the level of energy and emphasis we are putting on helping the UN process to really produce results.” Another clue was provided by a US statement "enthusiastically congratulating" Israel and Morocco over Lapid's visit, calling it "another important step in the strengthening of their relationship."
Lapid’s trip was the first by an Israeli minister since 2003, and the first meeting in Morocco since the US-brokered “Abraham Accords” with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, that were followed by Sudan and Morocco. Last month saw the opening of the UAE embassy in Tel Aviv and an Israeli one in Abu Dhabi. The overall picture is the downgrading of the traditional public commitment to the Palestinians by Arab governments.
The only negative aspect of Lapid’s visit was the refusal of the Moroccan Prime Minister, Saad Eddine el-Othmani, of the Islamic Justice and Development Party, to meet him –a decision that is hard to understand, since it was Othmani who, last December, signed the joint declaration that sealed normalization with Israel.
The past, as ever, is highly relevant: Israel and Morocco have had clandestine relations since the 1950’s and semi-formal ones in the 1990s, but Morocco cut them off after the second Palestinian intifada erupted in 2000. Still, the countries maintained informal ties, with thousands of Israelis travelling to Morocco each year, many of them of Maghrebi origin. Morocco is much more connected to Judaism and Jews than any other country in the Arab world.
But this latest development is not just about tourism or shared heritage but a significant geopolitical shift. Concluding his visit, Lapid claimed that strategically, they had created a political axis of Israel, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain and the UAE, and to a certain extent Greece and Cyprus as well. “This poses a pragmatic alternative to religious extremism,” he added. “We are creating a cycle of life in the face of the cycle of death created by Iran and its emissaries. Something is happening in the Middle East. People and leaders look at Libya and Syria and Lebanon and say to themselves, ‘This is not what we want for our children. This is not what we want for ourselves.’"
Bourita made clear he was keen to harness Israeli expertise in agricultural technology, research and water management in a desert climate. Another more controversial area of cooperation is cyber security following an agreement last month shortly before French officials accused Morocco of targeting Emmanuel Macron’s mobile phone with the Pegasus software supplied by the Israeli company NSO.
If the two countries have indeed formally agreed to open fully-fledged embassies in Rabat and Tel Aviv then it would be a big step. Bilateral trade and other agreements between companies and institutions have so far been implemented at a snail’s pace, which Israeli officials believe is intentional on Morocco’s part. Visits to Israel by Moroccan cabinet ministers that were planned before May’s Gaza fighting were postponed or cancelled.
It remains unclear whether there remain reservations on the Moroccan side – possibly because of King Mohammed’s role as chairman of the Al-Quds Committee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation? And there is domestic support – especially on social media - to the idea that by establishing relations with Israel he is betraying the Palestinian cause.
Rabat is right to insist that it supports a two-state solution to the Middle East’s most intractable conflict. In any event open and normal relations between the two countries at both ends of the Mediterranean Sea are not in themselves a negative development. But neither the Palestinians nor the Sahrawis are going to disappear any time soon. levant
by: IAN BLACK levant

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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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