Israel: Israel has stated that its pending decision regarding recognition of Morocco’s claim on Western Sahara is linked to the hosting of the Negev Forum, a gathering of foreign ministers involved in a United States-led regional normalization initiative.

Israeli Foreign Minister Mr. Eli Cohen announced on 3rd July 2023 that they are currently working on the issue and plan to make their final decision during the Negev Forum, which is expected to take place in September or October.

The Western Sahara has been a subject of dispute between Morocco and the Algeria-backed Polisario Front for many years.

The Polisario Front seeks to establish an independent state in the region, which was a former Spanish colony until Morocco assumed control in 1975. However, this move has not been internationally recognized.

The Negev Forum was established following a summit organized by former Israeli Foreign Minister Mr. Yair Lapid in March 2022 at the Kibbutz of Sde Boker in Israel’s Negev desert. The primary objective of the forum is to promote cooperation among Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. These countries are parties to the Abraham Accords, agreements brokered by the US to normalize relations between Israel and Arab nations.

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