BBC :
Israel’s new leader has received “warm greetings” in a letter from Morocco’s king as Hamas’ political chief Ismail Haniyeh visited the country for discussions on the Palestinian cause.
The message sent by King Mohammed VI congratulated Naftali Bennett on becoming Israel’s first new leader in 12 years after the coalition government he cobbled together ousted long-serving leader Benjamin Netanyahu this week.
Morocco will “continue its efforts to promote peace, justice and coexistence in the Middle East, which will ensure security, stability and brotherhood for all peoples living side by side”, said the king’s correspondence.
“Warm greetings and best wishes for great success,” said the letter, which was quoted by Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office on Wednesday.
Morocco has North Africa’s largest Jewish community of about 3,000 people, and Israel is home to 700,000 Jews of Moroccan origin. It became the fourth Arab state last year, along with the United Arab Emirates, Sudan, and Bahrain, to normalise ties with Israel under US-brokered deals.
Palestinians have condemned the agreements, calling them a betrayal of a longstanding position that Israel first meets their statehood demand before achieving normalisation.
Meanwhile, Haniyeh met on Wednesday with Moroccan Prime Minister Saad-Eddine El Othmani and officials from the ruling Justice and Development Party (PJD).
Haniyeh thanked El Othmani for the invitation to Morocco. “I hope that this visit will lead to getting the desired and expected results from the brotherly country Morocco,” said Haniyeh.
El Othmani said in a statement, “The delegation will hold discussions with the leadership of the Justice and Development Party regarding the latest developments in the Palestinian cause and how to support it.”
Haniyeh was making his first official trip to Rabat after an 11-day Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip, which began on May 10.
