Morocco Seeking Israeli Military Technology and Help to Acquire US-Made F35 Fighters

1-A recent visit by Israeli Minister of Defense Benny Gantz to Morocco drew a lot of attention as well as criticism from rivals. Gantz’s trip was the first public visit by a senior Israeli official in the Moroccan kingdom’s history. An Israeli source reported to JaFaJ that Gantz trip was “made upon request of Morocco’s king himself, Muhammad VI”. The source added that the visit has raised a lot of eyebrows not for what was made public, but, for what was untold about it.

Worries of A King
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2-The trusted source reported that Gantz secretively met with Muhammad VI during his official visit. The meeting took place in one of the king’s less used Rabat mansions, over lunch. A European intelligence source with close ties to the Moroccan king’s office has confirmed to JaFaJ that “the king raised few concerns with his Israeli guest”. The first and most pressing concern raised was hostility toward Morocco from neighboring Algeria.

3-Another Israeli source has confirmed to JaFaJ that Morocco has received Israeli intelligence reports confirming that Algeria is planning hostilities on the Moroccan borders. These reports are supported by recent border skirmishes. The source confirmed that much more sinister details have been confirmed, including, Algeria’s intelligence operations to support potential infiltration of the Moroccan borders by radical Islamist militias that are connected to Algeria.

4-Comment: Algeria and Morocco have a long history of rivalry and hostility. Nonetheless, more hostilities have been reignited lately by Morocco’s signing of a peace agreement with Israel under the Abrahamic Accords. The Accords have led the Algerian regime to fear that ties between Israel and its neighbor could give Morocco the upper hand in the struggle with Algeria. Algeria’s fears have proven not to be farfetched as a recent defense cooperation agreement was signed between Morocco and Israel just during Gantz’ visit.

The King’s Help
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5-A European source has confirmed that Morocco’s King has requested an extension of intelligence cooperation between the two nations. The Moroccan Director of General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance, Abdullatif Hammouchi, asked the Israeli Minister of Defense if Israel could utilize its satellites to provide intelligence on Morocco’s borders. The source opined, “The Moroccans want the Israelis to spy on the deployment of militiaman or Algerian troops across the border with Morocco as they are very concerned about Alegria-backed Islamists who may target Morocco”. The source added that Morocco wants Israel to provide technology to help surveillance in general and strengthen military and intelligence capabilities including Israeli drones with very high surveillance and combat powers which Morocco is less likely to be able to secure from the US.

Moroccans Are Looking into Acquiring the F35
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6-A European source has confirmed to JaFaJ that on the last day of Gantz’ visit, the Moroccan Minister of Defense raised the issue of enhancing Morocco’s Air Force. Morocco sustains a formidable air force made up of the very advanced Block 60 F16 fighter jets. Nonetheless, Morocco operates little over 20 of them, one of which had crashed in Yemen six years ago. Sources added that “Morocco needs more planes with a serious potential for war raising with its Algeriaian neighbors”. They added that Morocco is now looking into acquiring the F35 stealth fighter from the US. This interest emerged after the United Arab Emirates expressed its willingness to cover the cost of F35 jets for Morocco if the latter was able to obtain them from the US. The source also reported the Moroccan Minister of Defense explained to his Israeli guest that he would appreciate Israel’s help in “convincing the Biden administration to authorize the sale of F35 to Morocco and in obtaining more advanced weaponry in general”.

7-Conclusion: Morocco is very concerned about regional stability because it appears that the Generals ruling Algeria are not only becoming more hostile and threatening towards the Moroccan kingdom, but internal economic pressures are threatening Algerian stability. As a result of their lavish lifestyles, Algerian generals appear to not be willing to change their lavish lifestyles or accept more transparency, and would love nothing more than an increase in hostility with Morocco to defuse the angry public. Such bravado is likely and can clearly lead to a disaster across North Africa. In fact, with a history of recklessness and internal struggle, it is likely that Algerian Generals may stupidly launch a war with Morocco. Therefore, the Israeli Moroccan military cooperation should be considered a major deterrent, not because Morocco could not defend itself, but rather because Algeria’s Generals now know that Israeli support for Morocco will make any confrontation with it a very costly one.