Normalization of Israel/Morocco relations: the first direct trade lines open

Israeli carriers Israir and El-Al launched commercial direct routes between Israel and Morocco on Sunday, seven months after the normalization of relations between the two countries.

An Israir plane carrying around 100 people took off in the morning from Tel Aviv for Marrakech, Morocco's tourist capital, Israir spokeswoman Tali Leibovitz said, adding that two to three commercial flights between the two cities are scheduled weekly.

The national company El-Al also launched a direct line to Marrakech, during a ceremony at Ben Gurion International Airport, near Tel Aviv, in the presence of Tourism Minister Yoel Razvozov.

Five flights per week

"This line will contribute to the development of tourism and trade agreements between the two countries," said Yoel Razvozov, according to a statement from the company El-Al. El-Al said there would be five flights per week to the cities of Marrakech and Casablanca.

Morocco was the fourth Arab country to normalize relations with Israel in December 2020, after the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan, under the leadership of the administration of former US President Donald Trump.

A first direct flight carrying Israeli officials took place in December 2020 between Tel Aviv and Rabat. Bilateral agreements were signed in the process, particularly on the exemption of visas for diplomats and direct air links.

Last week, Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid announced that he would visit Morocco, after the opening of the direct air line to this country, without however announcing a precise date.

Yair Lapid's announcement came shortly after a consortium of international media broadcast an investigation in which the Moroccan intelligence services are accused of having used Israeli software to spy on journalists in particular.

The Moroccan government has firmly denied the use by its services of the Israeli software Pegasus to spy on journalists or national or foreign personalities.