The decision by Israel to recognize Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara has elicited varied reactions within the kingdom. Some analysts view it as a strategic decision and a diplomatic victory, while others see it as a "stain, insult, and humiliation" for the country and its people.
Moroccan academic and political analyst Idriss Qasouri told Reuters, "Israel’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over its territory, and opening a consulate in Dakhla, is a very important strategic decision for Morocco and significantly serves the national cause." Qasouri added, "Israel wanted to deepen the Abraham Agreement through Morocco and have it serve as an incentive and a model for other countries to follow, so it wanted to reap many political, diplomatic, economic, and military benefits before recognizing Morocco's sovereignty."
He noted that “Israelis wanted to invest strongly in their relationship with Morocco, seeking to avoid any retreat in normalizing ties and drawing other regional countries into agreements, thereby creating an Arab echo in this direction because the echo has a psychological effect.”
On the other hand, Moroccan lawyer and rights activist Khaled Al-Safiani told Reuters, "This recognition serves the Zionists," referring to Israel's long-standing conflict with Palestinians and several wars with Arab nations over the past seventy years. Al-Safiani, who is a member of the National Islamic Conference in Morocco, stated, "It is absurd to portray the Moroccan people as incapable of maintaining their territorial unity; this is an insult to the Moroccan people when we say we will rely on a criminal, terrorist, and racist entity to protect our territorial integrity. Morocco is in its Sahara, and Moroccans have liberated their land from colonization, and they are capable of maintaining their Sahara as well as every grain of sand of their national soil."
The Moroccan Body for the Support of the Nation's Causes, composed of moderate Islamists and a civil society organization, expressed that "linking the Sahara issue to normalization is an insult to Moroccans." In a statement, they said, "Recognition is a stain, an insult, and humiliation for Morocco and Moroccans, sending a message from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the rulers of Morocco, declaring the recognition of the Zionist occupation entity of Western Sahara and arranging all necessary measures for this recognition in exchange for Morocco's continued acknowledgment of the Zionist occupation state."
Moroccan analyst and lawyer, Hussein Knoun, an expert in international relations, stated that Morocco "pursues a policy of ambition and clarity in international relations within a win-win framework." Knoun noted to Reuters, "Morocco is made up of Moroccans from around the world, including the Jewish community,” referring to over a million Israelis of Moroccan descent.
He remarked that "the recognition came at the right time, as Morocco achieved victories on all fronts, and great powers responded and recognized the Sahara when the Moroccan king said that Morocco views the world through the lens of Moroccan Sahara."
Knoun said, "Morocco adopted a strategic performance approach rather than a strategic thought. Morocco postponed the Negev summit, citing repeated Israeli assaults on Palestinians, claiming that it is morally and politically impossible to hold the summit in the context of relations with Palestinians.” He added, "Israel also wanted to benefit from Morocco and delayed its recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara, while Morocco continued to move step by step, waiting for developments and changes that could allow it to renew its priorities, especially since it pertains to a strategic priority, which is the national issue, hence it deemed it appropriate to postpone the Negev summit."
