Morocco, Israel sign deals to mark historic visit
The foreign ministers of Morocco and Israel signed three accords on Wednesday during the first visit by a top official from the Jewish state since ties were normalised last year.
Nasser Bourita and his Israeli counterpart Yair Lapid signed agreements on political consultations, aviation and culture.
Lapid told reporters the accords would "bring our countries innovation and opportunities for the benefit of our children -- and their children -- for years to come".
Israel and Morocco struck a deal last year after then US president Donald Trump recognised Morocco's contested sovereignty in Western Sahara.
"Today, we are restoring peace, restoring friendship," Lapid said.
Morocco was the fourth Arab state to establish ties with Israel last year after the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan.
The move infuriated the Palestinians, as it shattered the longstanding Arab consensus that there should be no normalisation until Israel agrees to a comprehensive and lasting peace.
Bourita said that during his talks with Lapid, the situation in Israel and the Palestinian territories was raised.
"King Mohammed VI insists on the need to break the current impasse and resume negotiations, as the only means of reaching a solution based on two states living side by side on the 1967 borders," Bourita said.
The monarch had reassured Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas after the normalisation of ties that Morocco would continue to support the Palestinian cause.
"It is urgent that measures be taken today to restore confidence and maintain calm, to open a political horizon to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," Bourita said.
Lapid said he preferred to focus on the normalisation of ties between Israel and Arab countries.
"Something is happening in the region," he said.
On Thursday, Lapid will officially open Israel's diplomatic representation in the capital Rabat.
