Rabat – Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz started his “historic” official working trip to Morocco with a visit to the Mohammed V Mausoleum in Rabat.
The Israeli official shared a photo of himself paying tribute to late Kings of Morocco King Mohammed V and Hassan II.
In a tweet, Gantz said he began his visit with a trip to the Mausoleum, where he signed the visitors’ book.
The Israeli minister also described the visit as “important.”
“We will all work together for a better future and for partnership and peace between nations and peoples,” he said.
Gantz made a similar remark before boarding his plane to Morocco, describing his trip to the North African country as “historic” in a statement to the Israeli press.
He said that the visit will be topped off with the signing of a cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening defense partnership between Israel and Morocco.
Gantz is scheduled to meet with several senior officials in Morocco.
One of the meetings will revolve around the signing of a defense agreement. According to official comments quoted in both the Israeli and Moroccan press, the deal will mainly concern the development of a project to manufacture drones in Morocco.
Gantz’s visit comes as a statement of intent, indicating the shared determination of the Israeli and Moroccan governments to cement their newfound but “strategic” and “essential” cooperation on a broad range of fronts.
Under the auspices of the US on December 22, 2020, both governments signed a declaration of commitment to intensifying their diplomatic ties and related partnerships. The joint declaration came 10 y days after Morocco and Israel announced the re-establishment of relations.
Of the defense agreement to be signed during his Moroccan visit, Gantz has said the deal will essentially “outline military cooperation between the two countries.”
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