The Israeli Fifth Channel has issued an official apology after broadcasting a map of Morocco that excluded its southern territories during a program covering the Africa Cup final, which sparked widespread controversy.
The error occurred in a report aired by the program “In Our Neighborhood,” which discussed the court rulings against several Senegalese fans following the riots that accompanied the final match. Roni Kis, head of the Arab Affairs department at the Israeli Broadcasting Authority “Kan 11,” clarified that the map displayed contained a “technical error,” as the Sahara was not included within Moroccan territory.
Kis emphasized that this does not reflect Israel’s official stance, reminding that Tel Aviv recognizes Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara. In a corrective step, he posted a complete map of the kingdom on his accounts, accompanied by a clear apology stating, “I apologize to my Moroccan friends.”
The incident generated reactions on social media, before the channel swiftly moved to clarify its position and rectify the mistake, within the context of the bilateral relations existing between Rabat and Tel Aviv since their resumption in late 2020.
