Reuters, Jerusalem
Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid departed for Morocco on Wednesday in what will be the first visit by Israel's top diplomat since the two countries upgraded ties last year.
Israel and Morocco agreed last December to resume diplomatic relations and relaunch direct flights under a deal brokered by former US president Donald Trump in which Washington also recognised Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara.
Leading a ministerial delegation, Mr Lapid will inaugurate Israel's diplomatic mission in Rabat, visit Casablanca's historic Temple Beth-El and hold talks with his Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita, Mr Lapid's office said.
"This historic visit is a continuation of the longstanding friendship and deep roots and traditions that the Jewish communities in Morocco, and the large community of Israelis with origins in Morocco, have," Mr Lapid said ahead of the two-day visit.
Morocco was one of four Arab countries - along with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan - to move towards normalising ties with Israel last year under US-brokered deals.
Those accords angered Palestinians who have long relied on Arab support in their quest for statehood in Israeli-occupied territory.
US President Joe Biden has said he wants to build on Israel's new relations, which Mr Lapid has prioritised since taking office in June as part of a cross-partisan coalition that replaced long-time Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
