Last week, Israel and Morocco—which reestablished diplomatic ties last year in the wake of the Abraham Accords—signed a memorandum of understanding on security issues, which is expected to open the door to intelligence sharing, joint exercises, and perhaps arms sales. In Spain, a country that has a complicated and tense relationship with its African neighbor, the media greeted news of the agreement with alarm. Angel Mas argues that such this reaction is deeply misguided:
The government of Spain systematically disdains Israeli concerns regarding issues such as the financing of terrorism, to which Spanish institutions controlled by the parties in the government contribute under the cover of humanitarian aid. Also, Spain has no problem in cultivating the friendship of regimes that openly call for the destruction of the Jewish state—such as Iran, whose vice-chancellor was received by the Spanish government just a few days ago.
Spain is a country with much more economic and political weight than Morocco. According to historical and cultural criteria, it should be a natural partner of Israel in the Western Mediterranean. But the attitude towards Israel of successive Spanish governments, especially the current one, puts obstacles in the road to this alliance.
The prosperity that the agreement between Morocco and Israel will bring could also be an opportunity for Spain. . . . Spain is not interested in a troubled Morocco but in a prosperous one. Such prosperity, in great measure, depends on Madrid.
Read more on JNS: https://www.jns.org/opinion/for-spain-cooperation-between-israel-and-morocco-is-more-of-an-opportunity-than-a-threat/