Israel's recognition of Morocco's control over Sahara is 'nonsense': Algerian president

The Israeli recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over the disputed territory of Western Sahara is "nonsense", said Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

"It's a non-event (…) It's nonsense. The Sahara issue must be resolved according to international law and the United Nations," said Tebboune in an interview with local media on Saturday, 5 August.

Last month, Tel Aviv recognised Rabat's sovereignty over the disputed territory three years after the two states established official diplomatic ties.

Upon the Israeli announcement, the Algerian Foreign Ministry issued a press release condemning "this act, which emanates from an occupation authority with a black record in matters of violation of international law."

Morocco has had control of the territory, but little international recognition, since 1975, after Spanish colonial rule ended.

Once Morocco seized the bulk, Algeria began to provide military support to the Polisario Front. It allowed its leaders, as well as many Saharawi refugees, to establish themselves on Algerian territory.

Since then, Western Sahara has been the subject of a long-running territorial dispute between Rabat and Algeria-backed Polisario Front.

The UN recognises neither sovereignty over the disputed territory, and peace talks have failed as Polisario and Algeria refuse Rabat's autonomy plan in the region.

The Polisario Front, the Saharawis' self-proclaimed government-in-exile, demand an independent state in the territory.

Over the past five decades, Western Sahara put the Moroccan-Algerian disaccord on a continuous diplomatic standoff, with border closures and envoys recalled whenever tensions mount.

The rivalry between the two neighbours intensified when Morocco and Israel normalised ties in exchange for the US recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara and a promised American embassy in the disputed territory.

Algeria considered Morocco and Israel's new friendship a 'hostile' move. It cut diplomatic ties and closed borders with Rabat following the normalisation accords.

Rabat has lobbied since then for a similar Israel recognition of its sovereignty. Israeli journalist Edi Cohen said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wanted Rabat to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital in exchange.

Three years later, Netanyahu let go of his condition under pressure from some Likud party members "not to tie Jerusalem to the Sahara issue," added the Israeli journalist in a tweet.

Over 20 countries, including UAE and Jordan, have inaugurated consulates in the disputed territory in a supportive move of Morocco's control over the region. Though, the Biden administration has annulled the embassy plan amid international backlash.