Rabat – Morocco played a significant role in the recent decision to fully reopen the vital Allenby bridge linking the West Bank with Jordan, according to a senior US official. Speaking to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the US official highlighted that Morocco “played a key role” by facilitating dialogue between Israeli and Palestinian parties
Morocco’s involvement in the Allenby negotiations makes the North African kingdom the first of the countries who signed onto the Abraham Accords to get involved in Israel-Palestine mediation.
Working alongside the US, Morocco helped mediate to ensure that the bridge will soon be open around the clock, making it possible for people in the West Bank to use the international airport on the Jordanian side of the bridge.
Read also: Morocco Facilitates Dialogue on Permanent Opening of Jordan-Israel Allenby Crossing
The US, Palestine, Israel and Morocco spent months negotiating the full reopening of the Allenby crossing, working on separate elements of the political discussions.
“While we worked on separate tracks, we were informed throughout the process of Morocco’s and Jordan’s efforts,” the US official told Haaretz, adding that “it was these collective efforts that made the difference.”
The Biden administration official described the Allenby reopening as a priority for the US, and expressed delight that Morocco’s normalization of relations with Israel is “working to the benefit of Palestinians.”
Israel’s Minister of Transport and Road Safety Merav Michaeli on Friday thanked US President Joe Biden, Moroccan monarch King Mohammed VI, and Morocco itself for its “continued commitment and efforts to promote peace and prosperity in the Middle East.”
