Trump’s bribe to Morocco to ‘recognize’ Israel means little — but could inflame a colonial conflict in the Western Sahara

 https://mondoweiss.net/2020/12/trumps-bribe-to-morocco-to-recognize-israel-means-little-but-could-inflame-a-colonial-conflict-in-the-western-sahara/

 

The latest Trump move to bribe an Arab nation into “recognizing” Israel means practically even less than the first 3 “normalizations” — but could inflame a smoldering colonial conflict some 4000 miles to the west of Tel Aviv.

What’s more, one expert even warns that Trump’s bribe might eventually jeopardize global food security.

The Trump/Jared Kushner announcement characteristically exaggerated the importance of the Israel-Morocco agreement, with Trump calling it “a massive breakthrough.” But the two nations have never actually been at war, have privately maintained excellent relations for years, and Israeli tourists have been visiting Morocco without hindrance. Although Kushner said the deal calls for full diplomatic relations Morocco promptly demurred, saying only that it will re-open liaison offices with Israel.

It is Trump’s bribe to Morocco that is causing concern. He said the U.S. will formally recognize Moroccan control over the Western Sahara, the former Spanish colony to its southwest that Morocco has occupied illegally for decades. The Washington Post wrongly called Western Sahara a “disputed border region,” but the United Nations General Assembly and other international bodies regard it as “a non self-governing territory,” and have demanded that Morocco conduct a referendum to find out what its residents want.