The Moroccan ambassador's return to Algeria marks the end of a crisis, but not that of the disputes, knowing that such irregular diplomatic customs are only resorted to when patience runs out and the only way left to exchange messages of blame between friends and neighbors is the use of contact and dialogue channels to confirm its absence. The question never surrounded the reasons behind such behavior, but rather the two countries' ability to exercise self-restraint when their relations reach the brink of the abyss and their abstinence from sliding towards snowballing escalation. It seems in this context that the years of severance have had a positive effect in ensuring the emergence of a formula preserving the basic ties. The relationship between Morocco and Algeria does not require blames to confirm it is below ordinary. It would be enough to take a look at the closed land border for more than 17 years, to reach the conclusion that the two countries could not be farther from human and social normalization. This is happening at a time when the existing situation is harming the inhabitants of the border strip on both sides, despite the marital and familial ties they enjoy. It would also be enough to go over the Sahara conflict that is suffering a standoff to see the extent of the divergence and the disagreement, which is much too great to be contained by the efforts deployed by the United Nations. Around two decades ago, the train of the Maghreb Union stopped at the station of stalemate and obstruction. It was never able to leave it towards the wide horizon of an option featuring strategic dimensions, which is said by the Maghreb capitals to be necessary and inevitable to face the growing challenges on the regional level, but also at the level of the relations with the European partners and openness towards other unions. This is yet another proof of the impact of the existing disputes between Rabat and Algiers, ones which expanded and have started to affect key positions related to war on terrorism and the deterrence of the security threats in the Sahel region south of the Sahara. The most dangerous facet of this situation is not the divergence between the regimes of the two neighboring countries, but rather the ongoing implication of their populations to reach the point of no return. This is due to the fact that the disputes - regardless of their size and impact - should not provoke severance. However, there is a whole new generation in Morocco and Algeria that knows nothing but the closed border, the deteriorating diplomatic relations, and the numerous disputes that are unbound by one cause. What enhances this negativity is that all the consecutive developments, from the end of the Cold War to the prevalence of globalization and market economy, economic and cultural openness and the Arab spring wave, failed to break the ice of the disputes, which means they are much too great to benefit from the encouraging climate that has altered many regions around the world. This is true, although the two countries have no cause over which to fight, other than the remains of mounting disputes surrounding border demarcation, the ending of the tensions, and the handling of the security challenges. At this level, it is as if someone is pulling the two neighbors backwards whenever they start looking forward. For the Moroccan ambassador to go back to Algeria and for the two countries to try and contain the aftermath of a young man's storming of the gates of the Algerian consulate in Casablanca, is a mere return to the stage which preceded the emerging crisis caused by Rabat's disgruntlement over statements attributed to Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika regarding the Sahara issue. Hence, everything is still as it is. The efforts deployed by UN Envoy to the Sahara Christopher Ross are awaiting a breakthrough that will dissipate the wide misunderstanding, the border situation is awaiting a miracle guaranteeing the transit of individuals and goods in total freedom, and the Maghreb Union is still suspended - like a corpse which no one wants to bury in front of their home. Morocco and Algeria tested all the conflict mechanisms throughout their post-independence history. They thus fought directly or by proxy, severed their diplomatic relations and closed the border, then reconsidered their steps. They also confronted each other in African, Arab and international forums, without any side managing to shake the other. But what is worse is that whenever initiatives and mediations surface, Algiers in particular reiterates that there is no need for such efforts and that the two countries are engaged in dialogue and do not need a third party. This is seen although Arab and foreign mediations were previously able to break the wall of stubbornness, which is why it would be better for the benign efforts to be reactivated, especially since dialogue between the two countries has reached a dead end. At this level, none of the sides wants to go backwards, but they are unable to move one inch forward. It was revealed by various experiences that the existence of mediations aiming to contain the crises is much better that leaving them up to tense feelings. But the success of any such action remains linked to the conviction that resorting to positive efforts is more useful than remaining in a spot whose walls are closing in to the point of threatening with an explosion.
