Morocco is exerting an ever-tighter grip on the diplomacy over the disputed territory of Western Sahara after Israel's Foreign Minister Yair Lapid became the latest to endorse its plan for a devolved regional authority but with very limited powers and subject to Rabat's financial and political control...

Egypt has since taken a more active role in Gaza and in the Palestinian arena while forging tight relations with the new Israeli government headed by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid a process of deepening engagement is likely to continue...

Lamamra said the move was triggered by Morocco's burgeoning relations with Israel whose Foreign Minister Yair Lapid visited the kingdom in mid-month committing with his Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita 'to open embassies in the coming months'...