Morocco 'best mediator' for Israelis, Palestinians, Israel minister says

Morocco is the "most acceptable" mediator between Israelis and Palestinians, an Israeli minister said Monday, as ties between Rabat and Tel Aviv appear to flourish.

"Morocco is the most acceptable mediator among all the peoples of the region," regional cooperation minister Esawi Frej told Israeli news outlet i24News while on an official visit to the North African country.

"Morocco is a country that is acceptable and friendly to both parties, Palestinians and Israelis, so it is necessary for Morocco to play a major role in the rapprochement," he said.

Rabat agreed to normalise ties with Israel in 2020 through the US-brokered Abraham Accords. Normalisation of ties was met with ire from the Moroccan public.

Since then, a steady stream of Moroccan and Israeli officials have visited each others' countries and signed cooperation deals in various fields.

The two countries signed a deal on judicial cooperation earlier this week, and Israeli army chief Aviv Kochavi visited the country earlier this month in a bid to bolster military ties.

They have also signed deals to boost cooperation in fields including aerospace and tourism.

Morocco is also reportedly set to open an embassy in Israel this summer.

Despite Israel and Morocco's normalised ties, the North African country has been able to maintain friendly relations with the Palestinian Authority.

Morocco has offered restrained criticism of Israeli aggression against Palestinians, including its recent settler and security force violence at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

Frej told i24 that he had organised "more than a dozen events bringing together Moroccans and Israelis" in both countries.

Palestinian factions have condemned the Abraham Accords, a controversial agreement they see as a betrayal of their cause.