RABAT: Israel has recognised Morocco’s sovereignty over the disputed territory of Western Sahara and is mulling opening a consulate there, a statement from the Israeli prime minister’s office said on Monday.

The announcement confirmed a statement earlier from Morocco’s royal palace, which said Israel’s position had been expressed in a letter to King Mohammed VI from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israel was considering opening a consulate in Dakhla, the statement said.

Morocco considers Western Sahara its own territory, but the Algerian-backed Polisario Front wants an independent state there. In 2020, then-US president Donald Trump recognised Morocco’s claim to the territory in return for Morocco’s resumption of diplomatic ties with Israel.

The Israeli position “will be sent to the United Nations, regional and international organisations”, the statement from Morocco’s royal palace quoted the letter as saying.

Twenty-eight other countries — mostly African and Arab — have opened consulates in Dakhla, in what Morocco sees as tangible support for its Western Saharan rule.

Israel’s position on Western Sahara was “clear-cut” and adds to the momentum in Morocco’s favour, after Washington and Madrid, in addition to other European capitals, supported its plan for the territory, a senior Moroccan government official said.

The Israeli recognition would not affect Morocco’s “principles” in defending the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, he added.

Morocco expects the decision to encourage Israeli investments in the territory, he said.

As an indication of warming ties, the Israeli military earlier on Monday appointed a colonel as defence attach to Morocco.

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2023