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Morocco and Israel to Establish Diplomatic Relations with U.S. Backing
(Washington Post) Anne Gearan - Morocco and Israel agreed Thursday to establish diplomatic relations in a deal brokered by the U.S., the fourth Arab-majority country in recent months to say it would normalize ties with Israel. The agreement came after the U.S. ended its official neutrality and recognized Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara region. President Trump spoke by phone Thursday with Morocco's King Mohammed VI to secure the agreement. Trump noted that U.S.-Moroccan ties date to 1777. Middle East negotiator Jared Kushner said, "This is something that's been talked about for a long time but something that seemed inevitable at this point and something that we think advances the region and helps bring more clarity to where things are going." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Trump and Mohammed for a "historic peace." "Everybody knows the tremendous friendship shown by the kings of Morocco and the people of Morocco to the Jewish community there," Netanyahu said. "This will be a very warm peace."