Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on Wednesday held her first public meeting with Morocco's Foreign Minister Mohamed Benaissa in Paris. The two discussed the diplomatic process with the Palestinians and agreed to continue the dialogue between them.
Israel-Morocco relations have suffered a chill since the start of the second intifada seven years ago, after years of close relations after the signing of the Oslo Accords. The Paris meeting constitutes a turning point in the relations between the two countries.
Livni met the Moroccan minister secretly last September, and met with another senior minister from Morocco during a European Union convention. Wednesday's meeting was aimed at warming up the relations between Israel
and Morocco.
The Israeli foreign minister praised Morocco for its part in the Arab peace initiative and for its involvement in the Al-Quds committee representing the Arabs' interests in Jerusalem.
Livni told her Moroccan counterpart, "Alongside security problems caused by Hamas' takeover of the territory, a situation has been created which brings with it an opportunity to promote the diplomatic process opposite the government
established by Salam Fayyad."
The two discussed a series of issues related to the relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and Israel's relations with the Arab world.
Later Wednesday, Livni is expected to meet with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.
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