Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a letter to King Mohammed VI of Morocco. Photos: Reuters
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a letter to King Mohammed VI of Morocco. Photos: Reuters
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a letter to King Mohammed VI of Morocco. Photos: Reuters
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a letter to King Mohammed VI of Morocco. Photos: Reuters

Israel to recognise Morocco's sovereignty over Sahara region


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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has revealed plans to recognise Morocco's sovereignty over a Western Sahara region.

Mr Netanyahu made the announcement in a letter sent to King Mohammed VI, Morocco's Map state news agency said.

“In this regard, the Israeli Prime Minister affirmed that his country's position will be embodied in all the relevant works and documents of the Israeli government,” it said.

In his message, Mr Netanyahu said Israel was considering opening a consulate in the Moroccan city of Dakhla.

Last month, Israel's National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi visited Rabat to discuss Israel's recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara region.

The area is claimed by Morocco, which controls 80 per cent of its territory, but the Algeria-backed Polisario Front continues to demand a referendum on it becoming an independent state.

The two sides fought a 15-year war over the territory after Spanish colonial forces withdrew in 1975.

Morocco resumed ties with Israel as part of the Abraham Accords in 2020, encouraged by then US president Donald Trump, who recognised Rabat's rule over the region.

But President Joe Biden has not followed through by opening a consulate there.

The Israeli military also appointed its first attaché to Morocco on Monday. Col Sharon Itach, of Moroccan origin, is leading the country's Home Front Command.

It comes after the military sent its first delegation of troops for a US-led drill in Morocco in June.

The two nations have intensified diplomatic relations. Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita hosted Mr Hanegbi for talks in June.

Morocco recently postponed a summit for the signatories of the Abraham Accords that was scheduled to be held in the summer, citing political reasons thought to be linked to tensions between Israel and the Palestinians.

Asked earlier this month what Israel sought in return for the recognition of the Sahara region as Moroccan, and whether it planned to open a consulate in the territory, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen linked a decision to the conference.

“We are right now working in regards to this issue and our plan is to have our final decision in the Negev Forum,” he told reporters.

Mr Cohen said he expected the Moroccan-hosted event to take place in September or October.

Tensions have been rising in the occupied West Bank as Israel has conducted several fatal raids in Nablus and Jenin, with dozens killed.

Palestinian attacks against settlers are also on the rise, the latest on Sunday where a gunman opened fire at a vehicle, injuring three Israelis.

“Morocco expresses its solidarity with the Palestinian people and rejects the Israeli government decision of expanding settlements in the West Bank,” Mr Bourita said last month.

Recipe: Spirulina Coconut Brothie

Ingredients
1 tbsp Spirulina powder
1 banana
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk (full fat preferable)
1 tbsp fresh turmeric or turmeric powder
½ cup fresh spinach leaves
½ cup vegan broth
2 crushed ice cubes (optional)

Method
Blend all the ingredients together on high in a high-speed blender until smooth and creamy. 

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Tributes from the UAE's personal finance community

• Sebastien Aguilar, who heads SimplyFI.org, a non-profit community where people learn to invest Bogleheads’ style

“It is thanks to Jack Bogle’s work that this community exists and thanks to his work that many investors now get the full benefits of long term, buy and hold stock market investing.

Compared to the industry, investing using the common sense approach of a Boglehead saves a lot in costs and guarantees higher returns than the average actively managed fund over the long term. 

From a personal perspective, learning how to invest using Bogle’s approach was a turning point in my life. I quickly realised there was no point chasing returns and paying expensive advisers or platforms. Once money is taken care off, you can work on what truly matters, such as family, relationships or other projects. I owe Jack Bogle for that.”

• Sam Instone, director of financial advisory firm AES International

"Thought to have saved investors over a trillion dollars, Jack Bogle’s ideas truly changed the way the world invests. Shaped by his own personal experiences, his philosophy and basic rules for investors challenged the status quo of a self-interested global industry and eventually prevailed.  Loathed by many big companies and commission-driven salespeople, he has transformed the way well-informed investors and professional advisers make decisions."

• Demos Kyprianou, a board member of SimplyFI.org

"Jack Bogle for me was a rebel, a revolutionary who changed the industry and gave the little guy like me, a chance. He was also a mentor who inspired me to take the leap and take control of my own finances."

• Steve Cronin, founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com

"Obsessed with reducing fees, Jack Bogle structured Vanguard to be owned by its clients – that way the priority would be fee minimisation for clients rather than profit maximisation for the company.

His real gift to us has been the ability to invest in the stock market (buy and hold for the long term) rather than be forced to speculate (try to make profits in the shorter term) or even worse have others speculate on our behalf.

Bogle has given countless investors the ability to get on with their life while growing their wealth in the background as fast as possible. The Financial Independence movement would barely exist without this."

• Zach Holz, who blogs about financial independence at The Happiest Teacher

"Jack Bogle was one of the greatest forces for wealth democratisation the world has ever seen.  He allowed people a way to be free from the parasitical "financial advisers" whose only real concern are the fat fees they get from selling you over-complicated "products" that have caused millions of people all around the world real harm.”

• Tuan Phan, a board member of SimplyFI.org

"In an industry that’s synonymous with greed, Jack Bogle was a lone wolf, swimming against the tide. When others were incentivised to enrich themselves, he stood by the ‘fiduciary’ standard – something that is badly needed in the financial industry of the UAE."

Indika
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Estijaba – 8001717 –  number to call to request coronavirus testing

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THE TWIN BIO

Their favourite city: Dubai

Their favourite food: Khaleeji

Their favourite past-time : walking on the beach

Their favorite quote: ‘we rise by lifting others’ by Robert Ingersoll

Updated: July 18, 2023, 7:19 AM