On Abraham Accords 6th anniversary, Israel & Morocco agree to upgrade relations, exchange ambassadors

A day after the 6th anniversary of the historic Abraham Accords of peace between Israel and four Arab nations, Israel and Morocco announced a significant upgrade to their relations.

The announcement comes after three years of high tensions due to the Gaza war between Israel and the Arab nations, including its Abraham Accords partners, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco, as well as Jordan and Egypt, which made peace with Israel years earlier.

On Wednesday, Israel, Morocco and the U.S. held a trilateral diplomatic summit in New York City, with the participation of Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, and U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz.

An important meeting in New York with U.S. Ambassador to the UN @michaelgwaltz and my colleague, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, with whom I also held an important bilateral meeting.

We agreed on significant steps to strengthen Israel-Morocco relations: upgrading our… pic.twitter.com/1jdeUbdy6N

— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) September 16, 2026

In a joint statement, the countries declared that they, “undaunted by regional challenges… reaffirm the spirit of the Abraham Accords and continue to believe the establishment of full diplomatic, peaceful and friendly relations between Morocco and Israel is in the common interest of both countries and will advance the cause of peace and unlock new opportunities for the entire region.”

The key move agreed by the nations is the upgrade of the diplomatic relations, by exchanging ambassadors and elevating their diplomatic missions “to full embassies.”

In addition, “they agreed to take the necessary measures for prompt reinstatement of direct flights between Morocco and Israel, including by Israeli and Moroccan airline companies before the end of the year.”

Israel and Morocco also agreed to “finalize, by the end of 2026, agreements on the protection of investments and the avoidance of double taxation, which will facilitate reciprocal investments and help promote economic and business ties between the peoples and countries.”

🇮🇱🇲🇦🇺🇸 TRILATERAL SUMMIT IN NEW YORK: Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz held a trilateral diplomatic summit in New York today.

The three countries committed to a series of steps to upgrade… pic.twitter.com/WV0mUpV90a

— גיא עזריאל Guy Azriel | Diplomatic Correspondent (@GuyAz) September 16, 2026

Crucially for Morocco, the U.S. and Israel reaffirmed “their recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the entire Western Sahara territory and their support for Morocco's serious, credible, and realistic autonomy proposal as the only basis for a just and lasting solution to the dispute over the Western Sahara territory.”

“Any other path prolongs the status quo and is unacceptable,” they added. Western Sahara is a coastal territory south of Morocco proper, which was annexed by the kingdom in 1979. This is disputed by the Polisario Front, a terrorist independence movement supported by neighboring Algeria as well as the Iranian regime.

Israel and the U.S. are among the few states that recognize Moroccan sovereignty over the entire Western Sahara. The United Nations considers the territory’s final status unresolved while stressing the inhabitants’ right to self-determination.

‼️Full Statement by US, Israel and Morocco:

It says Morocco and Israel confirmed their agreement regarding the elevation of the diplomatic missions between Morocco and Israel to full embassies and the exchange of ambassadors. pic.twitter.com/UGV4EaUd2R

— Hiba Nasr (@HibaNasr) September 16, 2026

Foreign Minister Sa’ar told his colleague Bourita that Morocco has a “very special place in this vision,” adding that the “friendship between the Moroccan and Jewish peoples has deep roots and a rich history.”

“The declaration we signed today outlines practical ways to upgrade ties between Israel and Morocco for the benefit of both peoples, and we will work to implement it,” vowed Sa’ar.

Both sides also thanked the U.S. and particularly President Donald Trump for mediating and assisting in their relations.

The countries said they “recognize and appreciate the United States and especially President Trump as a visionary leader uniquely capable of bringing peace where no one else thought it was possible. The participants understand that deeper regional integration, building on this historic foundation, will lead to further peace, stability, and shared prosperity across the Middle East and beyond.”