Foreign Minister Yair Lapid inaugurated Israel’s liaison office in Rabat, Morocco, on Aug. 12. He was joined by Welfare Minister Meir Cohen, Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee head Ram Ben Barak and Israel’s charge d’affaires in the Moroccan capital, David Govrin. Moroccan Deputy Foreign Minister Mohcine Jazouli also took part.

Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita did not attend; he had met extensively with Lapid on Aug. 11 following Lapid’s arrival. Lapid said that he and Bourita had agreed to further upgrade diplomatic ties, restored to the level of liaison offices in December in the framework of the Abraham Accords. Reportedly, Bourita will dedicate the Moroccan Embassy in Israel in October or November, depending on the coronavirus pandemic. Lapid said the flight that brings Bourita to Israel would be the first direct Air Morocco flight to Israel.

"Strategically, what we are creating here is a diplomatic axis of Israel, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, which presents a pragmatic alternative to religious extremism," said Lapid.