Morocco signs deal to purchase 'advanced weapons' from Israel

JERUSALEM

Morocco on Thursday signed an agreement with Israel to purchase Israeli drones and "advanced weapons" systems.

In a statement, the Israeli Defense Ministry said Defense Minister Benny Gantz and his Moroccan counterpart Abdellatif Loudiyi signed a “pioneering defense memorandum of understanding" during his visit to Morocco.

"The agreement provides a solid framework that formalizes defense relations between the two countries and lays a foundation for any future cooperation," it said.

“The agreement will enable defense institutions in both countries to enjoy increased cooperation in the fields of intelligence, industrial cooperation, military training, and more.”

The ministry noted that the agreement would help increase economic cooperation, bilateral tourism, and warm people-to-people relations.

This is the second agreement signed by Israel and Morocco during the visit of Israeli defense minister to Rabat.

On Wednesday, Gantz and Loudiyi agreed on military cooperation and signed a "pioneering defense memorandum of understanding.”

Gantz arrived in Morocco late on Tuesday for a two-day official visit, the first such visit by an Israeli defense minister to the North African country. His visit, however, has drawn criticism from human rights associations in Morocco.

On Dec. 10, 2020, Israel and Morocco announced the resumption of diplomatic relations that were suspended in 2002, making Morocco the fourth Arab country to normalize relations with Israel in 2020 after the UAE, Bahrain, and Sudan.