Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the Knesset in Jerusalem, Dec. 19, 2018. Photo: Reuters / Amir Cohen.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might visit Morocco in the spring, according to a local news outlet in the northwestern African nation.

The Hebrew news site Mako cited on Thursday a Le Desk report claiming that high-level contacts are already underway between Israel and Morocco, led by Meir Ben-Shabbat, the head of the Jewish state’s National Security Council, in collaboration with American diplomats.

The visit could occur just before the April 9 Knesset election and shortly after Pope Francis visits Morocco at the end of March.

A possible reason for Morocco’s sudden interest in closer ties with Israel is its need for American support regarding a disputed area of the Western Sahara.

The Moroccan government did not respond to the Le Desk report, and the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office stated that it did not comment on contacts with countries that do not have diplomatic relations with Israel.