The Hebrew "Walla" website reported that a military cargo plane belonging to the Moroccan Air Force landed today, Sunday, at the Israeli Air Force's "Hatzor" air base, before the start of the international maneuvers that will begin this week in Israel.
A number of US-led countries are expected to participate in the international exercises, making this Morocco's first open participation in a military exercise with the Israeli Air Force.
The Hebrew website reported that an IDF spokesman refused to confirm whether the landing of the Moroccan plane was related to the international military exercise, or whether Moroccan army soldiers would participate in the above maneuver.
The official website of the US Navy reported that Morocco will participate, for the first time, in large-scale international military maneuvers of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), including Israel.
The exercise was scheduled to take place on June 28, but for unpublished reasons the exercise was postponed to the beginning of the month, according to the U.S. Navy website.
In addition, four Arab countries, Egypt, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates and Tunisia, will participate in these maneuvers, either directly or as observers, as well as 5,000 troops, 32 ships, 40 aircraft and 18 commandos from 32 countries.
Last May, Moroccan Prime Minister Saad Edin al-Ottoman congratulated the Palestinian factions in Gaza on the "victory they achieved during the recent Israeli aggression," emphasizing his country's "strong" stance on the Palestinian people and their cause.