>> israel says it recognizes morocco's sovereignty. it is an area claimed by the polisario front. and what will israel get in return? this is "inside story". ♪ >> welcome to the program, disputes over western sahara have raged for decades. morocco claims it as its own

while armed groups blocked by algeria want independence. momentum may be on morocco's side. israel has joined the u.s. in recognizing its claim and is hoping more countries will follow. this report. >> within this desert of more than a quarter of a million square kilometers of valuable mineral resources. morocco says it is part of its territory. that is disputed by the polisario front. rocco's claim is not widely recognized, but that may be changing. it restored relations with israel and has been cemented by tel aviv recognizing israel over the south sahara. it was overseen over the trump administration. it was the first country to do so, reversing decades of policy.

morocco hailed it as a major breakthrough. [speaking non-english language] >> this confirms historic and imported decisions, the case of the moroccan desert and the u.s. acknowledgment that it is part of moroccan lands. >> on the others is the -- the polisario front, backed by algeria. they fought a war with rocco that ended in a cease-fire in 1991. u.n. troops were deployed to keep peace. but it was never held. morocco believes momentum is on its side. 28 states have set up consulates. actions morocco sees as support. spain and other european countries have backed up land for western sahara to have autonomy over moroccan rule. another shift some believe is in morocco's favor.

the state of a western's heart is far from decided. with israel and the u.s. backing its position, morocco is hoping or countries will do the same. >> let's bring in our guests. the president of the moroccan institute of strategic intelligence. associate fellow with the middle east and north africa program. and the advocacy head of the collective of human rights defenders. welcome to "inside story". why has israel decided on this position to recognize western sahara right now? >> thank you for having me, i

think this is a logical continuum of the resuming of diplomatic relations between morocco and israel. we have to say that morocco has specificities, the only arab county -- country that has moroccan jews living in israel who are waiting for the decision. some of them come from the sahara. this is the logical decision that was dictated by geopolitics . >> israel and tel aviv, it has been three years since they cited -- signed to the abraham accords. what was israel waiting for? >> israel wanted to see what the rest of the international community is doing. back then, the u.s. record nine stte that the west to hera is part of morocco. -- the west sahara is part of

morocco. only 28 countries so far recognize the western sahara belongs to morocco. israel is a state of flux, it is easier to get something out of the government, it is desperate for some achievements. it did not come completely free for morocco, what comes with it is an upgrade of their diplomatic relations, their mission, their embassy. there is some give and take. israel also needs diplomatic achievements. >> we will be looking at the military connection as well. you have heard what both of them have had to say, the move itself by israel could be viewed as

antagonistic by the polisario front end algeria. it is the main supporter for autonomy of the region. what sort of reaction do you think we can expect from the polisario front in the hours ahead from algeria? >> the polisario front was already made public through a statement. we need to highlight that recognition from israel, which is also an occupied state, a recognition from an occupier from -- two morocco. it is not something to celebrate. to be so desperate to legitimate and illegal presence that has been proven throughout the

process through the u.n. being confirmed that the right of the say her in people is an obligation and a way of a path towards colonization of the western sahara. as well as confirmed by rulings from european countries that has been confirmed that morocco has no -- over western sahara. nor can it attain the power status. this came on the same day as the fleet left the western sahara.

it is a cover up for that. do not see it as a victory for morocco, especially when it is against the will of the majority of moroccan people. >> i want to jump in there, we have your sense. we want to get debate across the three of you. can i come back to you, the various points of view about how this situation is unfolding and various groups are going to react. for decades -- we have tended to seek confrontation in the area, not outright violence or fighting, but described as a low-level intensity. do you think this confrontation will be heightened?

we are in danger of a conflict? >> the view from here is that it is on probable that we would have an escalation. if we build on that, we have to understand history and back. as much as i am interested in conspiracy theories, we have to state simple facts. there is a big paradox. the whole international community is shouting about separatism in ukraine. but here, some part of the international community is not enthusiastic about recognizing the rights of morocco over the sovereignty of the sahara. we are peace progress, agents of union. if we are to draw the parallel, it is symptomatic that the polisario front about a guerrilla movement that counts

for 7% of the population, that is weaponized by the algerian regime that has a rivalry with morocco. it is like the vatican or group in russia. -- the wagner group in russia. it is used by an antagonistic country to defuse their problems. >> certainly on the political front, if we go back to august 2022, the tunisian ambassador being recalled back from algiers when there was an investment convention being hosted. you say you are peace brokers, you are also very sensitive to the regional movements of the polisario front and who they meet and don't. >> absolutely, let's look at the iconic image.

the only arab country that was able to have crowds cheer for its national team in palace team and israel -- in palestine and israel is morocco. we recognize our jewish heritage and our -- heritage by the constitution. algeria is backing a military movement. we do not accept that countries that are our allies are meddling within our affairs. there is common ground now and growing support for the morocco proposition of autonomy. which is a form of self-determination which has been backed by the u.s.. we cannot have a double standard for ukraine and not have the

same standard for moroccans. >> morocco is hedging its bets by getting closer to israel. this confirmation by tel aviv over western sahara helps that argument on the international front. does it help with the traction further afield? is it a fair assessment that by aligning your posts to tel aviv, it will get more support on the international front? >> it is interesting, we see something that undermines the ability to end conflict on the international arena. we saw conflicts in different places, whether in the sahara, ukraine, other places. conflicts of -- conflict fester for a long time and continue to

create tension. the entire region has no mechanisms to reserve it. when you are in this situation, everyone is looking for allies. whether it is the polisario front with algeria, morocco with the u.s., and israel. we need to look at the history of the relations between these. even without diplomatic relations, morocco had to move to initiate the peace negotiation with egypt in the 1970's. visits or secret, negotiations, diplomatic engagements between morocco and israel for a long time. what happened is formalizing relations that existed. there were reports about israel

with the military efforts in the western sahara. it is similar to what happened with the uep --ue, it is formalizing, legitimate icing -- legitimizing and building on the relationship. >> let me ask you, if morocco is getting closer to israel and vice versa, they are not the only islamic, muslim, arabic country, they all have diplomatic relations with tel aviv. do you think the polisario front and its supporters are on the side of a losing battle trying to get the positive politic

sorted? >> i don't see it that way. we know other countries have normalized ties with israel, that has been based on the proper analysis and what is best for their agenda and the people. when it comes to morocco, it was a pure bargaining operation, trading the sahara for palace team. -- for palestine. they have been consistent in their opposition. morocco is facing a question that requires clarification as to their own people and the

international community. what are the prices? would they recognize -- as external capital of israel? we have seen the military coming to rabat. the intention that morocco is heading over its ownership to israel. i do not think that this has any impact, the impact lays with what the polisario front is awaiting within this year. this will be historical, it will affirm the legality of the

western sahara. to provoke the neighbors by involving other parties would not be the right path to take when we compare the geopolitics right now. comparing this with ukraine, i think the international community would face a serious problem. >> i'm going to jump in there. i don't want to get too bogged down in ukraine. i appreciate that there are similarities. i want to keep it to what is going on now. becoming closer to israel, distance morocco from the larger islamic world. there is a great deal of tension between israel and other muslim

countries that are so order of of the palestinian cause and right to statehood. you cannot ignore it. a classic example of what we have seen over the past few weeks, which has shocked millions. what is morocco's strategy in dealing with tel aviv when it comes to the palestinians? you cannot ignore the issue, you are closely involved in the arab league and the organization of islamic states. >> i don't think ignore is -- i don't think morocco is ignoring it at all. the king has been clear from day one. in morocco, we believe in a two state solution, and his majesty -- every single moroccan is giving part of his revenue to the community in order to rebuild the ancient quarters of jerusalem.

this is something that is at the heart of conversation in morocco. we believe you cannot make peace with someone you do not speak to. it is a very personal thing for all moroccans, are attached to the palestinian cause, and the moroccan government was clear in condemning the attacks by the israelis on the palestinians. we are also in our tradition of peace brokerage by morocco, and it was the king who enabled the reopening of an important gate between jordan and israel. we do believe diplomacy works. as it is for palestinians, it is important for moroccans, i come from a saharan family. we have to stop opposing the fact we can have diplomatic

relationship with israel and ask them to tough questions about palestine. and we can support the palestinian people, this is the moroccan position, a position of balance and moderation. >> the one thing that is very evident in israeli politics is that democracy can easily head back to the polls if the public is not happy. have seen election after election fall. do you find it interesting that morocco and its leadership has decided to cultivate a relationship with the military, more so than the politicians? it has been an easier conversation to have, hence we have seen arms sales.

how do you assess that connection, and the strategy that rbabat has. >> some people still do not recognize the depth of the constitutional crisis in israel. that it is the deepest since the establishment of the country in 1948. there is an effort that is artificial in differentiating between the diplomatic relationship, the palestinian issue, nila terry issues with israel -- military issues with israel. not recognizing or turning a blind eye, by purchasing these weapons, they are supporting our country that is occupying millions of people and depriving

them of human rights. it goes towards the previous speaker who said, morocco says certain things about the palestinian issue, but all of the countries that signed the agreement, yes we would like to see more cooperation. but we felt ignoring the palestinian issue, because it is morally wrong and because it is going to harm their own interests. there is the issue of when it comes to supply for farms, people are ready to turn a blind i, what does it mean? as long as one makes a lot of money and getting weapons that you would like to purchase. >> let's get a little context, a major element of the ties between morocco and israel has been arms sales. it gives morocco access to high-tech weaponry.

it includes a tank, and advised -- an advanced piece of hardware that israel has not sold before. they could prove useful in fighting groups like the polisario front. we talked about this military defense are tausha, -- attach a, the homefront command, he is of moroccan origin. anti-is attached -- it is a masterstroke to have an israeli of moroccan descent attached to morocco. it brings ties together very easily. >> it is not the only one to serve in a diplomatic service in morocco. this is a beautiful thing to see, the reestablishment of

relationships between hundreds of thousands of people in rocco and -- in morocco. there is something that many people would like to see. it sends all of the right signals to both countries. but as long as they are looking to other issues, without ignoring there is an issue of occupation, of the palestinian issue. >> let's bring you back in, how worried do you think, on a wider level, is algeria going to be with israeli you nations on the border? >> i think the algerians have been clear, considering it has a direct provocation from the moroccan side. what that contributes to peace

and stability in the region, i don't think so. from the other side, talking about the current israeli regime is a far right extreme racist richey. -- racist regime. in trying to extend its ties with the morocco regime. this is absolutely not something to be proud of. let's be clear that for the saharan people, it is to be mentioned that their fate is in the locality and its noble cause, and believing in the international law. this cannot be deviated, no matter who recognizes and

occupation. let us not ignore the impact on morocco itself, on the people, and it's stability inside morocco. a threat to the stability and morocco itself, rather than being a threat to neighboring countries. >> we are at the end of the program, are we heading to a north african cold war where we have morocco, u.s. and israel on one side, on the others we have algeria cozying up to russia and iran. this is what strategists are looking at to see if this region could be another hot spot. >> we are seeing a global reconfiguration of alliances. morocco is building alliances

with a lot of new allies. when it comes to defense, we are not simply by an arms, we are building a national industry of defense with a lot of partners. the second thing is that i do not know why buddy asks about algeria -- why nobody asked about algeria. it is the most armed country in the zone. when it comes to morocco, we stick to facts. it is the steib list country when it comes to institutions -- it is the stable list country when it comes to institutions. maybe there is a cold war, but there is one country on the rise, which is rocco. and there is a country that is relying on distractive industries, which is algeria. >> we will have to leave it, we

will continue to follow this story closely on "inside story". thank you to all of our guests. thank you for watching. you can see the program again by was -- by visiting our website at aljazeera.com or visiting our facebook page. you can join the conversation on twitter, our handle is @ajinsidestory. thank you for your time. ♪

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