Moshe Shitrit was touched “deep in his soul” on visiting his family’s village in Morocco, a trip which will soon become easier for fellow Jewish Israelis after the two countries agreed to normalise ties.
Moshe’s mother was heavily pregnant with him when she clambered aboard a boat bound for Gibraltar, along with her husband and their 10 children, before flying onwards to Israel in 1961.
“When the conditions were there, they just did it,” said Moshe, 59, at his home in Tel Aviv, sitting beside his 58-year-old brother Itzhak Shitrit.
The family moved in 1948 from their village of Kasbat el-Mahzen to Casablanca, where Itzhak said they lived until Israeli authorities arranged their travel.
“My parents waited to receive the call to leave,” said Itzhak, a lawyer, recounting how the family had to go immediately to the port.
"We came from the airport to Kiryat Gat, a small town in the south. Today all of us still live in Israel but more than half live outside of Kiryat Gat. He (pointing to his brother) lives in Jerusalem, me and another sister in Tel Aviv, and the rest are scattered all over the country."
More than 275,000 Moroccans have emigrated to Israel since the country was founded in 1948, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics.
Generally the Jewish community in Morocco had good relations with the broader public, said Itzhak, although there was a period of anti-Semitism during the Second World War.
The announcement of the US-brokered deal in December came after Israel inked accords last year with the UAE, Bahrain and Sudan.
Lior Ben Dor, from Israel's foreign ministry told The National that talks with Rabat so far are "really going very well."
The renewed relationship comes two decades after Morocco closed its liaison office in Tel Aviv, at the start of the second Palestinian uprising.
“There is great potential for co-operation,” said Mr Ben Dor, director of the ministry’s Egypt and the Maghreb department in the ministry.
An Israel delegation travelled to Morocco in December and there have since been online ministerial meetings on everything from health to security, Mr Ben Dor said, with direct flights between the two countries set to start within months.
Taking indirect flights, five Shirit siblings and some of their children visited the family’s former homes in Casablanca and Kasbat el-Mahzen two years ago.
“It was something really huge, deep in my soul,” said Moshe, who works in real estate. He previously visited the country with his wife in 1995 and mementos from the country adorn the wall of their home.
Growing up in Kiryat Gat, a southern city, the Shirits spoke Arabic and ate Moroccan food at home, but felt a desire to focus on their future as Israeli citizens.
“In a way, we tried to forget our culture,” said Moshe, who in recent years has been trying to learn more about his heritage.
The two brothers have taken a course in Judeo-Moroccan, an Arabic dialect written with Hebrew letters, and this month they have launched an online lecture series.
The first session on the bilateral relationship drew around 50 participants, Moshe said, with upcoming topics set to include art, humour, and Jewish-Moroccan newspapers.
One of the speakers is Einat Levi, whose parents emigrated from Morocco in 1952. After becoming interested in her family’s heritage as an adult, she began organising tours for Israelis to the country.
“There were always warm ties between the people, in the last 20 years they went on deepening even though there were no diplomatic relations,” said Ms Levi, a researcher at the Mitvim Institute think tank.
Since bilateral ties resumed, she said it has become easier for Israelis to collaborate with universities and official bodies in Morocco.
Going forward, Ms Levi anticipated the sale of Israeli technology to Morocco in areas such as agriculture and renewable energy. The economic advantages may not be apparent to many Israelis, however, due to a lack of knowledge about the country today.
“Morocco is like a familiar place and it’s part of the heritage of Israel, but at the same time it got stuck in the 1950s and 1960s, in the memories of our grandparents,” she said.
While Israelis can look forward to closer relations with Morocco, the resumption of ties has been condemned by the Palestinians. The recent deals have broken with decades of consensus among Arab states that an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal must precede normalisation.
Ms Levi was certain that Moroccans would not forget about the Palestinians, while the Shirits said Moroccan diplomats could now play a central role as mediators.
“I hope the relationship between Morocco and Israel will help us in solving the problem with the Palestinians, or at least have a chance to improve the dialogue,” said Itzhak.
Describing the bilateral deal as “a public marriage between a hidden couple”, he said it will not bring considerable change for the family as they already have a relationship with Morocco.
Beside a pile of second-hand books bought to learn more about the country, Moshe said he feels like he is constantly trying to catch up.
“I feel in a race after my past, after my history, after my roots,” he said.
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Three ways to get a gratitude glow
By committing to at least one of these daily, you can bring more gratitude into your life, says Ong.
- During your morning skincare routine, name five things you are thankful for about yourself.
- As you finish your skincare routine, look yourself in the eye and speak an affirmation, such as: “I am grateful for every part of me, including my ability to take care of my skin.”
- In the evening, take some deep breaths, notice how your skin feels, and listen for what your skin is grateful for.
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
What is tokenisation?
Tokenisation refers to the issuance of a blockchain token, which represents a virtually tradable real, tangible asset. A tokenised asset is easily transferable, offers good liquidity, returns and is easily traded on the secondary markets.
Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
Make sure you have plenty of water
Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
Take your litter home with you
Company profile
Company name: Dharma
Date started: 2018
Founders: Charaf El Mansouri, Nisma Benani, Leah Howe
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: TravelTech
Funding stage: Pre-series A
Investors: Convivialite Ventures, BY Partners, Shorooq Partners, L& Ventures, Flat6Labs
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Levante v Real Mallorca (12am)
Leganes v Barcelona (4pm)
Real Betis v Valencia (7pm)
Granada v Atletico Madrid (9.30pm)
Sunday
Real Madrid v Real Sociedad (12am)
Espanyol v Getafe (3pm)
Osasuna v Athletic Bilbao (5pm)
Eibar v Alaves (7pm)
Villarreal v Celta Vigo (9.30pm)
Monday
Real Valladolid v Sevilla (12am)
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
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