US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke on Tuesday with Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans living abroad, Nasser Bourita. «The Secretary and the Foreign Minister discussed their shared concern about the violence in Israel and the West Bank and Gaza, which has claimed the lives of Israeli and Palestinian civilians, including children», said US Department of State spokesman Ned Price in a statement. Antony J. Blinken also «highlighted the importance of the strong bilateral partnership and Morocco's key role in fostering stability in the region», the statement added. I spoke with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita about the importance of restoring calm in Israel and the West Bank and Gaza to prevent further loss of life. Morocco is a strategic partner, and we will work together to end this conflict. — Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) May 18, 2021 The phone call between Blinken and Bourita did not go unnoticed by Spanish media. Some believe that «in the midst of the political crisis between Spain and Morocco, the US State Department issued a statement praising the good harmony between Washington and Rabat». The same Spanish source also recalls that the appeal and the declaration come at an «inopportune» moment for Spain, facing «one of the worst political and diplomatic crises with Morocco for having received and provided medical aid to the leader of the Polisario Front, the controversial Brahim Ghali».
