Israel-Morocco relations

From left: Villagers from Agoudal with gear purchased with money raised by the GoFundMe page managed by Martha Rettig and Denise Marie; A Jewish-Amazigh workshop in the Atlas mountains in the 1950s; Amazigh women cross a river bearing loads on their backs. (Courtesy)

September 6, 2019, 4:28 pm

Moroccan villagers with a hazy Jewish tie get a financial lifeline from Israelis

How Jewish donors are helping the indigenous Amazigh clothe and educate themselves, as they struggle to spark a cultural resurgence within a society of ruling Arab elites

By Yaakov Schwartz

Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita addresses the United Nations General Assembly Wednesday, September 20, 2017, at the United Nations headquarters. (AP Photo/ Frank Franklin II)

February 17, 2019, 9:33 pm

TV report: Netanyahu held secret talks with Morocco foreign minister in New York

Meeting said to take place on sidelines of UN General Assembly in September; PM sought to arrange visit, normalize ties, offered help regarding Iran

By TOI staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Moroccan Crown Prince Moulay Hassan, and Moroccan King Mohammed VI, in Paris, November 11, 2018. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, Pool)

February 4, 2019, 1:03 am

Morocco silent amid rumors of Netanyahu visit next month

Minister won’t address reports, but recent visit to north African nation by top Jewish Republicans adds fuel to speculation

By TOI staff

January 25, 2019, 1:18 am

Netanyahu said seeking state visit to Morocco ahead of elections

Rabat reportedly sees warming up to Israel as pathway to Trump support for its claim on Western Sahara territory

By TOI staff

Moroccan soccer fans trying to snatch an Israeli flag at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow after a FIFA World Cup match on June 20. (Screen capture: YouTube)

June 20, 2018, 10:49 pm

Israeli World Cup fans say Moroccans didn’t try to grab flag: ‘They welcomed us’

After footage appears to show soccer supporters trying to snatch Israel flag at Moscow stadium, Israelis say scuffle was in fact over player’s shirt

By Michael Bachner

June 20, 2018, 10:03 pm

Moroccan fans appear to scuffle with Israel flag holders at World Cup

Footage shows supporters apparently trying to snatch banner, after Morocco loses and suffers early exit from soccer tournament

By Michael Bachner

Illustrative: Pro-Palestinian protesters wave Palestinian and Moroccan flags during a demonstration in Rabat against US President Donald Trump's declaration of Jerusalem as Israel's capital on December 10, 2017 (AFP PHOTO / FADEL SENNA)

May 21, 2018, 9:10 am

Over 10,000 Moroccans protest Gaza deaths, US embassy move

Demonstrators chant ‘Death to Israel,’ a day after Rabat scraps twinning project with Guatemala City over its new Jerusalem mission; protests also held in Kashmir

By TOI staff

Communications Minister Ayoub Kara speaks at a Likud party event in Lod on December 31, 2017. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

February 4, 2018, 2:55 pm

Minister claims mystery ‘prince of Bahrain’ is visiting Israel

Ayoub Kara says he discussed ties with the tiny Gulf nation during meeting in Tel Aviv, but Foreign Ministry says it has no knowledge of the royal visit

By Raoul Wootliff

Israel's Ori Sasson (blue) competes against France's Cyrille Maret (white) during the Judo World Championships Open in Marrakesh on November 11, 2017. (AFP/Fadel Senna)

November 11, 2017, 5:47 pm

In Morocco, Israeli judoka permitted to display his country’s name

Moroccan authorities initially threatened not to award Israelis visas, but eventually reneged, and unlike the UAE last month did not ban symbols of Jewish state

By TOI staff

Israeli judo chief Moshe Ponte, left, with IJC head Marius Vizer, second left, and two Emirates sports officials meeting in Abu Dhabi on October 28, 2017, (IJF)

November 1, 2017, 7:01 pm

UAE to allow Israeli symbols next year, Israeli judo chief believes

Officials hail progress though it remains unclear if Olympic bronze medalist Or Sasson will be allowed to display his flag at upcoming world championship in Morocco

By Raphael Ahren

Moroccan Jews and Israeli Jewish tourists participate in Simchat Torah festivities at a synagogue in Marrakesh on October 12, 2017. (AFP PHOTO / FADEL SENNA)

October 31, 2017, 9:08 am

Historic Jewish quarter of Marrakesh sees revival

Tens of thousands of tourists flock to Morocco for festivals to boost tiny, elderly resident community

By Sophie Pons

Zionist Union MK Amir Peretz (2nd-L) attends a meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean in the Moroccan capital of Rabat on October 8, 2017. (Screen capture: Channel 2)

October 8, 2017, 10:35 pm

In Morocco, ex-defense chief called ‘war criminal’ by Islamist MP

Former Israeli lawmaker comes to Zionist Union MK Amir Peretz’s defense, notes he’s a native of country

By TOI staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with African leaders in Uganda on July 4, 2016. (Kobi Gideon/GPO)

September 11, 2017, 3:21 pm

Landmark Israel-Africa summit canceled following boycott threats

Host Togo asks to postpone 54-nation gathering to a date ‘agreed upon between the two countries’; Jerusalem vows to continue efforts in continent

By Raoul Wootliff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) meets with Togo's President Faure Gnassingbé during the ECOWAS summit in Monrovia, Liberia, June 4, 2017. (Kobi Gideon/GPO/Flash90)

August 7, 2017, 4:04 pm

Israel dismisses efforts to derail upcoming Africa summit

Palestinians, Moroccans and South Africans dismayed over Togo gathering, at which PM will seek to boost diplomatic and economic ties

By Raphael Ahren

Likud Minister Ayoub Kara meets with prime minister of the Sahrawi Republic of southern Morocco, Abdelkader Taleb Omar in Ecuador on May 24, 2017. (Courtesy)

June 22, 2017, 2:35 am

Morocco complains to Israel about minister’s photo with rival leader

Foreign Ministry says Ayoub Kara’s brief meeting with Sahrawi Republic PM did not receive official approval

By Raoul Wootliff