Israel opens first-ever pavilion at Morocco defence show

Israel established its first national pavilion at the Marrakech Air Show on Thursday, marking its initial official entry into a Moroccan-hosted defence exhibition since the two countries normalised relations under the Abraham Accords. The Israeli Defence Ministry said eight domestic defence firms are presenting technologies at the event, which runs from October 7 to October 10, 2026, at the Marrakech Royal Moroccan Air Force Base. Among the exhibitors, Israel’s three largest defence firms—Elbit Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Rafael—displayed systems and solutions spanning air, land, sea, space, intelligence, cyber and digital domains, according to the ministry. The pavilion joins a wider international gathering for civil and military aeronautics and space industries that is organised every two years. Officials framed the participation as a step in expanding practical ties between the two countries. Last month Morocco and Israel agreed to upgrade diplomatic relations by elevating their respective missions to embassies and appointing ambassadors, following a meeting between their foreign ministers on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York that was hosted by US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz. The two countries have also agreed to increase air links, including plans to reinstate direct flights operated by carriers from both nations, and confirmed intentions for high-level bilateral visits in the coming months. Separately, Morocco is among five countries that have pledged to send troops to Gaza as part of a US-backed International Stabilization Force, according to the source material.