Morocco selects Israel's Elbit Systems as its primary arms supplier

Morocco has selected Israel’s Elbit Systems as its primary defence supplier, securing a deal to acquire 36 Atmos 2000 self-propelled artillery systems, according to French newspaper La Tribune.

This move comes amid rising tensions between the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR) and France’s defence company KNDS, Morocco’s previous main arms provider, due to persistent technical malfunctions in the Caesar artillery systems, which Morocco ordered in 2020 and partially received in 2022.

Technical issues emerged soon after the initial delivery, prompting Morocco to lodge multiple complaints with KNDS. Despite repeated efforts to resolve the problems, Rabat was dissatisfied with the company’s slow response, and several artillery systems remain non-operational.

The new defence deal has made Israel Morocco’s third-largest weapons supplier, accounting for 11 per cent of its total arms imports, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

Morocco selected the Atmos 2000 system for its advanced capabilities and commercial advantages. Mounted on a Czech-made 6×6 or 8×8 truck chassis, the artillery system features a 155 mm cannon, a protected crew compartment for two to six personnel, and a firing range exceeding 40 kilometres.

Morocco and Israel announced a normalisation agreement on 20 December 2020, during US President Donald Trump’s first term, within the framework of the Abraham Accords, a series of agreements pushed by Washington to strengthen relations between Israel and several Arab countries. It followed years of informal relations and limited cooperation between Morocco and the occupation state, especially on commercial and cultural matters.

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Morocco made some political and diplomatic gains by signing the deal, notably America’s recognition of the kingdom’s sovereignty over the Western Sahara. Diplomatic relations between Rabat and Tel Aviv were restored, having been suspended since 2000. They each opened diplomatic liaison offices in the other’s capital, opening the door to broader economic, commercial, security and cultural cooperation. Tourism, technology, agriculture, energy and innovation links were boosted.

The normalisation deal was met with mixed reactions domestically and regionally. In Morocco, many political parties, especially the Islamic, nationalist and leftist groups, as well as human rights movements, criticised the agreement as a break with the kingdom’s historical positions on the Palestinian issue.

Despite normalising diplomatic ties with Israel, Morocco has frequently criticised Israeli policies including condemning a proposed plan by US President Donald Trump to relocate Palestinians from Gaza, calling it a “dangerous precedent” that contravenes international and humanitarian law.

According to Israeli media reports, Morocco is one of several potential destinations being considered for the resettlement of Palestinians, alongside Egypt and Jordan.

Rabat’s firm rejection of the proposal aligns with opposition from other Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia.