Israel’s 75th National Day Celebrated in Rabat, Paving Way for Stronger Ties

Rabat – The Israeli Liaison Office in Rabat hosted a grand celebration on Tuesday to mark Israel’s 75th National Day, also known as Yom Ha’atzmaut, at Fairmont La Marina Rabat Sale Hotel.

The event brought together officials, diplomats, ambassadors, and members of the Moroccan and Israeli communities, reinforcing the growing commitment to cooperation and collaboration between the two countries. Senior adviser to King Mohammed VI Andre Azoulay was also present at the ceremony.

Israel National Day, which commemorates the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, serves as an occasion for Israelis around the world to reflect on their nation’s rich heritage and accomplishments, said the Head of the Israeli Liaison Office Shai Cohen.

In addition to celebrating the national holiday, the event highlighted the growing bilateral relations between Morocco and Israel since the normalization of diplomatic ties in December 2020.

Head of the Israeli Liaison Office Shai Cohen

The evening commenced with a press conference headed by Cohen, who expressed gratitude for the Moroccan government’s continued commitment to strengthening ties, and emphasized the shared values and historical connections between Israel and Morocco.

Cohen also underscored the importance of fostering cultural exchange and mutual understanding to further boost diplomatic ties.

Growing Morocco-Israel relations

“What we have accomplished in two years and a half since the agreement that was signed in December 2020 reflects what we are going to see in the future. We have accomplished so much in two and a half years in all fields of cooperation,” Cohen told Morocco World News on the sidelines of the event.

Highlighting the two countries’ shared vision of peace, progress, and friendship, he said that Morocco and Israel have achieved immense growth in relations in all sectors. “What we see now is only the beginning,” he stressed.

“I think that we are going to further multiply trade relations, and see joint ventures and investments,” Cohen added, forecasting a boost in tourism flow between Morocco and Israel.

Morocco welcomed a record 200,000 Israeli tourists in 2022, a significant increase compared to nearly 40,000 in 2019, before the two countries normalized relations in late 2020.

There are currently twelve weekly flights connecting Tel Aviv and Morocco, Cohen noted, stressing: “This number is going to multiply very soon because the capacity of the tourist flow is going higher.”

Meanwhile, trade between the two countries saw a staggering 150% increase in the first four months of 2023 compared to the same period last year.

The diplomat stressed that the future holds more potential for cooperation between the two countries in civil areas and culture, education, and Research and Development (R&D), among others.

Attendees at the event

He argued: “The infrastructure of the relations between our two people, not the governments, is so deep … so rooted in heritage and in culture that I do not see why it should not grow further in the coming year.”

In the address he delivered at the ceremony, Cohen recalled the deep historical ties that Morocco and its kings had with the Moroccan Jewish community. He notably underlined that the Late King Mohammed V, the grandfather of Mohammed VI, protected Moroccan Jews during the Holocaust.

For his part, Deputy Chief of Mission at Israel’s Liaison Office in Rabat Eyal David told MWN: “We are very happy to be here tonight and celebrate national day in Rabat for the second time since the reestablishment of relations between Israel and Morocco.”

Deputy Chief of Mission at Israel’s Liaison Office in Rabat Eyal David (right) shaking hands with Moroccan politician Mohamed Ouzzine (left), with Andre Azoulay and his wife Katia Azoulay in the background.

Celebrating the growing relations between Morocco and Israel, David noted that Wednesday will mark a “historic visit” of Amir Ohana, the speaker of the Knesset, the unicameral parliament of Israel and supreme authority of that state.

“It is the first time that our speaker of the Knesset, the third in power in Israel, comes to Morocco to establish relations between the two parliaments,” he added.

David recalled the many visits of Israeli ministers to Morocco in recent months, noting that his country’s Foreign Minister and Prime Minister are expected to visit the North African country “very soon.”

Fashion show, featuring the work of various designers who merged Moroccan and Israeli traditions and clothes.

The ceremony also showcased the diversity and vibrancy of the Moroccan and Israeli cultures through a fashion show, which featured the work of various designers who merged Moroccan and Israeli traditions and clothes.

At the end of the ceremony, the organizers announced the winning designer who received a monetary prize from Cohen, Moroccan designer Fadila El Gadi, and Katia Azoulay, Andre Azoulay’s wife.