Arr! Israel be sayin' "Aye, Morocco be rightful owner o' Western Sahara, mateys!"
2023-07-17
Yo ho ho! Avast, me hearties! On this fine Monday, Israel be proclaimin' its recognition o' Moroccan rule o'er the Western Sahara, a land stolen from the Spanish dogs. 'Tis a jolly jest, for 'tis just sou' o' Morocco, me lads!
Israel has announced that it recognizes Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, making it the second country, after the United States, to acknowledge Morocco's annexation of the disputed territory. The announcement came after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a letter to King Mohammed VI of Morocco, expressing recognition of their claim over Western Sahara. Israel's Foreign Minister, Eli Cohen, stated that this recognition will strengthen relations and regional stability between the two countries. The recognition is a result of the "Abraham Accords" brokered by former President Donald Trump, which led to the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and Arab states. In exchange for Morocco normalizing relations with Israel, the Trump administration promised to recognize Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. This decision overturned decades of U.S. policy and international consensus that the status of Western Sahara should be determined through a U.N. referendum. Western Sahara was annexed by Morocco in 1975 after it was a former Spanish colony. The territory is believed to have significant offshore oil and mineral resources. A cease-fire was brokered by the U.N. in 1991, but disagreements over voting eligibility have prevented a referendum on the territory's future. The Polisario Front, which supports independence for Western Sahara, renewed armed conflict in 2020 after a 29-year truce. Tensions have escalated between Morocco and Algeria, with the latter breaking diplomatic ties with Morocco in 2021.