Morocco Inks Billion-Dollar Deal For Israeli Spy Satellite, Sparking Controversy

Morocco is set to acquire a spy satellite from Israel in a deal valued at $1 billion, according to local media reports. This move has sparked debate within the North African nation, raising questions about regional alliances and the ethics of arms deals.

The news follows an announcement by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), a state-owned defense contractor, that it secured a $1 billion contract with an unnamed "third party" to supply one of its "systems" over five years. Moroccan news outlets Le Desk and Le360, citing Israeli sources in Rabat, claim the system in question is the Ofek 13 spy satellite.

This advanced satellite would replace Morocco's current observation technology manufactured by Airbus and Thales. The Ofek 13 is expected to bolster Morocco's intelligence-gathering capabilities, particularly in the Western Sahara region where tensions with the Polisario Front independence movement simmer.

However, the deal has drawn criticism from some Moroccans who oppose normalization of relations with Israel due to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The National Front Against Normalisation, a Moroccan activist group, condemned the agreement, demanding clarification from the government.

"We condemn this deal and any agreement with the Zionist entity," stated Aziz Hanaoui, a member of the Front, to The New Arab. "[We] demand an official statement and explanation from the government."

Officials in Morocco and Israel have yet to officially confirm the deal. The agreement comes amidst a warming relationship between the two nations, marked by the signing of a defense agreement in 2021 that covers intelligence cooperation and military procurement.

This billion-dollar satellite acquisition signifies a significant step in Morocco's defense modernization efforts. But as the deal goes through, it remains to be seen how it will impact regional dynamics and public opinion within Morocco.