Flights between Israel and Morocco could soon be restored

Direct flights between Morocco and Israel could soon be restored, according to the Moroccan government-friendly North Africa Post and agencies on November 13th.

This is according to a report by Israel’s Channel 12, which stated that the Kingdom’s skies would reopen for Israeli travellers after direct flights between the countries were halted on October 7, 2023. If the reports are accurate, Morocco will become the first majority Muslim nation to restore flights with Israel.

Neither Tel Aviv nor Rabat have confirmed the restoration of flights, and the airlines that previously operated these routes have yet to comment. Moroccan airlines Royal Air Maroc and El Al still list Israel as a destination on their websites, but no flights are currently available for bookings.

Journalists at pro-Israel outlets have shared the reports on social media, with Zvika Klein, editor-in-chief of the Jerusalem Post, writing on X: “For the first time since October 7, Morocco will allow Israelis to visit, and flights to Morocco will resume tomorrow.”

These reports came amid Morocco’s increasing defence cooperation with Israel in recent months, despite the Moroccan public’s widespread support for the severing of ties between Rabat and Tel Aviv, and the Kingdom’s official condemnation of Israeli military activity.

It was reported on October 13th, that the Kingdom hosted a drone test for Israeli defence firm BlueBird Aero Systems. The drone was reportedly being tested against larger targets, such as tanks and armoured vehicles.

It was reported in February, that Morocco purchased 36 ATMOS-2000 self-propelled artillery systems from Israeli defence contractor Elbit Systems; a contract signed between the countries made Israel the Kingdom’s largest defence partner.

This is despite the UN’s conclusion on September 16th that Israel’s war on Gaza constituted genocide, which Elbit Systems is accused of being complicit in over its supply of at least 85% of the drones used by the Israeli military during its war on Gaza.

Morocco joined the Abraham Accords in December 2020, a US-backed agreement that seeks to normalise relations between Israel and Arab nations. The Moroccan public has long criticised its nation’s ties to Israel, with many taking to the streets to protest the docking of a ship in Tangiers that was carrying parts of an F-35 fighter aircraft to Israel.

In July 2024, Morocco announced plans to purchase a spy satellite from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) in a deal valued at $1 billion; the Kingdom had previously purchased the Barak 8 air defence system from IAI for $500 million in February 2022.

North Africa Post and agencies, Maghrebi.org