Moroccan minister denies trade relations with Israel

Moroccan Minister Delegate to the Minister of Industry, Trade, Investment and the Digital Economy Mohamed Abbou on Tuesday denied any trade relations between his country and Israel, stressing that the Moroccan government “is keen to fight the entry of all Israeli goods to Morocco”.

“The government has never granted any license for anyone to import dates or any other Israeli products,” Abbou said during a parliamentary session answering questions about the spread of Israeli dates in Moroccan markets during Ramadan.

Abbou added that official data confirms that Morocco does not have any business relationship with Israel.

Moroccan NGOs have led a boycott campaign against Israeli dates which entered the Moroccan market during the month of Ramadan.

The Moroccan minister stressed that his country is committed to the decisions issued by the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in terms of trade and economic relations with Israel.

However, MP Mehdi Mazwari of the opposition Socialist Union of popular forces Party said in a press statement that the value of Israeli products in Morocco is estimated at $50 million, stressing that “all these products could not have entered the kingdom through smuggling”.