Relationship dossier
Israel
Western Sahara
Relationship assessment
Israel backs Morocco's sovereignty claim; Western Sahara's status and representation remain contested.
Israel toward Western Sahara
-35In July 2023, Israel recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, supporting Morocco's claim over the territory.
Western Sahara toward Israel
Not assessedOverall relationship
Not assessedHow to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Israel's recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara takes a position on the territory's disputed status that conflicts with Sahrawi independence claims. Western Sahara's governance and international status are contested, and the territory does not have a single, generally recognized government conducting an independent foreign policy.
Areas of tension
- Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara versus Sahrawi claims to self-determination.
Key developments
Israel recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara.
Major uncertainties
- The extent to which Sahrawi authorities conduct foreign policy on behalf of the territory is unclear.
- The practical implications of Israel's recognition for bilateral contact with Sahrawi authorities are unclear.