Israel's Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom started Monday his first official visit to Morocco. During his meetings, Shalom will call for a normalization of relations between the two countries, including a re-opening of the liaison offices in Rabat and Tel Aviv that were closed after the outbreak of the Palestinian intifada, Haaretz reported. However, Israeli Foreign Ministry officials said they believed Morocco would delay any planned announcement on the reestablishment of diplomatic ties due to the collapse of the cease-fire with the Palestinians, Yediot Aharonot reported.
Even so, Israeli sources called the visit to Morocco "an important diplomatic achievement."
Shalom's itinerary will include Rabat and Casablanca. On Tuesday he is scheduled to meet King Mohammed VI and later have dinner with the Moroccan foreign minister. Additionally, Shalom intends to visit the kingdom's Jewish community.
According to Yediot Aharonot daily, Shalom's visit to Morocco was the result of ongoing secret contacts between the two sides. (Albawaba.com)
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