Two Israeli airlines launched their first commercial flights between Israel and Morocco on Sunday, less than a year after the countries officially normalized relations.

 

Israeli Tourism Minister Yoel Razvozov said the new direct flights would “help advance fruitful tourism, trade and economic cooperation and diplomatic agreements between the two countries.”

 

Israel and Morocco agreed to normalize relations in late 2020 as part of the U.S.-brokered “Abraham Accords.” Morocco was among four Arab nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan, to establish diplomatic relations with Israel.

As part of the deal, the United States agreed to recognize Morocco’s claim to the long-disputed Western Sahara region, however the Biden administration said it will review this decision. Morocco’s 1975 annexation of Western Sahara is not recognized by the United Nations.

 

El Al said in a statement before the departure of its first flight that the company plans to operate five flights per week between Israel and Morocco.

 

In addition, El Al will also organize 5 trips this week to Marrakech and Casablanca, and the price of a round-trip ticket is $499.

 

Moroccan officials said that in addition to these two companies, a third company, "Arkia", will start its flights to Morocco on August 4th.

 

The move aims to attract 38,000 Israeli tourists to Morocco by the end of this year, while Royal Air Maroc will bring 12,000 Israeli tourists by the end of 2021.

 

“We hope that now many can know Morocco better, to experience and be excited by this special country that is deeply rooted in Israeli heritage, culture and experience,” said El Al CEO Avigal Sorek.

Source : Safa