Casablanca – Israeli President Isaac Herzog congratulated Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri on her appointment as Morocco’s head of government, describing it as a “groundbreaking appointment” in a message posted on X.
“On behalf of the State of Israel, I extend my warmest congratulations to Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri,” Herzog wrote, wishing the freshly appointed Moroccan head of government success in her new role. He also said King Mohammed VI “has shown great leadership in striving for peace and strengthening the historic ties between our two peoples.”
On behalf of the State of Israel, I extend my warmest congratulations to Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri on her groundbreaking appointment as Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Morocco by His Majesty King Mohammed VI. I wish her every success in this role.
King Mohammed VI has shown…
— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) September 30, 2026
Herzog called for continued cooperation between Morocco and Israel to “expand the circle of peace and tolerance in our region.”
El Mansouri became head of government after King Mohammed VI received her at the Royal Palace in Rabat yesterday and tasked her with forming a new government under Article 47 of the Constitution. Her appointment followed the September 23 legislative elections.
Her Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) won 97 of the 395 seats in the House of Representatives, making her Morocco’s first woman to lead the government.
Herzog’s congratulatory comments come as Rabat and Tel Aviv move to deepen their diplomatic ties. On September 16, Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita met Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz in New York.
The three sides announced plans to elevate the Moroccan and Israeli diplomatic missions to full embassies and exchange ambassadors. They also agreed to work on restoring direct flights and finalize investment protection and double-taxation agreements by the end of 2026.
Bourita said Morocco’s relationship with Israel does not mean the two countries agree on everything. “We are not 100% in agreement with Israel. Each can have its own policy,” he told Fox News, adding that Morocco sees the Abraham Accords as a way to promote peace and stability in the region. Morocco’s top diplomat also said the relationship can help the North African kingdom deliver humanitarian assistance to Palestinians.
At the UN General Assembly on September 22, Bourita said the Palestinian cause remains a “constant priority” for Morocco. Rabat continues to support an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
As chair of the Al-Quds Committee, King Mohammed VI also continues to support efforts to preserve Jerusalem’s historical and cultural identity, with the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency carrying out projects aimed at improving conditions for residents of the city.
Read also: Morocco’s Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency Outlines Vision 2030 Plan for Jerusalem
