The scheduled visit marks the first time an Israeli Knesset speaker has received an official invitation from the parliament speaker of a Muslim country.
By United with Israel staff
Knesset Speaker MK Amir Ohana is scheduled to depart on Wednesday for an official visit to the Parliament of Morocco, the Knesset announced on Monday.
The official invitation from Speaker of the House of Representatives of Morocco Rachid Talbi El Alami is the first ever extended to an Israeli Knesset speaker by a parliament speaker of a Muslim country, the Knesset noted.
In addition to meeting with his Moroccan counterpart, Ohana is also slated to meet with the chair of the Morocco-Israel Parliamentary Friendship Group and additional members of the House of Representatives.
The Knesset Speaker and his host are expected to issue statements to the press and to sign an official memorandum of understanding for the development of inter-parliamentary cooperation to strengthen the relationship between the State of Israel and the Kingdom of Morocco.
Ohana is also scheduled to meet with senior officials from the Moroccan government and with leaders of the local Jewish community.
“Thanks to the groundbreaking leadership of His Majesty King Mohamed VI of Morocco, this visit has been made possible,” Ohana said in a statement ahead of the visit.
“The dream of peace with the lands of Islam has always been in our hearts, and it is only fitting that of all these many countries, it is the Kingdom of Morocco that is the first to invite one of the symbols of government and head of the State of Israel’s legislative branch – who also happens to be the first Knesset Speaker of Moroccan origin – for an official visit to its House of Representatives.”
“History is being made before our eyes, and it heralds the strengthening of the relationship between the two countries, greater closeness between the nations and expanding the circle of peace,” Ohana added.