Israel’s El Al airline to launch direct flights to Morocco as relations between the two countries continue to progress nearly eight months after the two countries reached a US-backed normalisation deal.
El Al airline’s first direct flight numbered LY 553 took off at 11:30 am local time from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport to Morocco’s southwest city of Marrakech.
The El Al flight lounge for flight LY553 was decorated with Moroccan flags, carpets, and other items.
The flight comes ahead of a prearranged visit by Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid to Morocco at the end of July.
On December 10, 2020, Israel and Morocco announced the resumption of diplomatic relations between them after they were suspended in 2002 following the second Palestinian intifada, making Morocco the fourth Arab country to normalize relations with Israel in 2020 after the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, and Sudan.
The normalisation deals have since drawn widespread condemnations from Palestinians, who say the accords ignore their rights and do not serve the Palestinian cause.
The move came as the administration of former US President Donald Trump recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara, a disputed and divided former Spanish colony.
Both airlines’ round trip tickets to Marrakesh cost around $500.
El Al operated the first direct commercial flight between Tel Aviv and Rabat in December 2020.
Morocco is home to North Africa’s largest Jewish community, which numbers around 3,000. Some 700,000 Jews of Moroccan origin live in Israel.
Extension granted for Ajrak-themed number plates in Sindh until Aug 14
- 3 گھنٹے قبل
Gold prices continue upward trend as global rates climb
- 9 گھنٹے قبل
NAB summons former federal minister Azam Swati on July 17
- 4 گھنٹے قبل
EU threatens $84bn tariffs amid trade dispute with US
- 3 گھنٹے قبل
Aiden Markram named ICC Men’s Player of the Month for June 2025
- 4 گھنٹے قبل
Israeli aggression in Gaza continues; 28 more Palestinians martyred since morning
- 7 گھنٹے قبل
Bitcoin smashes records, surges past $122,000
- 8 گھنٹے قبل
Feeling of loneliness and social isolation may lead to type 2 diabetes, study finds
- 6 گھنٹے قبل
Govt moves to simplify tax system with Urdu forms and digital invoicing
- 7 گھنٹے قبل
Transporters join traders in nationwide strike over Finance Bill
- 8 گھنٹے قبل
US to send Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine: Trump
- 4 گھنٹے قبل
First US pneumonic plague death since 2007 reported in Arizona
- 3 گھنٹے قبل
