Israel voices support for Morocco’s Western Sahara autonomy plan

Israeli FM says Israel and Morocco will work together to counter attempts to weaken Moroccan sovereignty and territorial integrity.

JERUSALEM - Israel on Monday voiced support for Morocco's autonomy proposal for Western Sahara after the countries' foreign ministers met at an Israel-Arab summit.

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid hosted counterparts from four Arab countries in southern Israel. Following his meeting with Nasser Bourita from Morocco, Lapid issued a statement that the countries would work together to counter "attempts to weaken Moroccan sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Morocco considers Western Sahara its own but the so-called Algeria-backed separatist movement, the Polisario Front, demands a sovereign state. Rabat says its 2007 proposal to offer Western Sahara autonomy within Morocco is the most it can propose as a political solution to the conflict.

Lapid lauded a recent decision by Spain to support Morocco's autonomy plan, calling it "a positive development."

Morocco agreed in 2020 to normalise ties with Israel under the so-called Abraham Accords that were brokered by the United States. As part of the deal, and in a departure from longstanding US policy, then-President Donald Trump agreed to recognise Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara.