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Rabat’s Mohammed V National Theatre hosted on December 22 a ceremony marking the second Anniversary of the Resumption of Israeli Moroccan Diplomatic Relations.
Organized by the Israeli Liaison Office in Rabat, the event celebrated the historical links between Muslims and Jews in Morocco while also highlighting the diversity of both societies through various musical performances.
Hundreds of people from Israel and Morocco attended the event to celebrate their commitment to advancing regional prosperity and peace between the two countries.
Andre Azoulay, advisor of King Mohammed VI at the ceremony
The ceremony featured an opening speech by the Head of the Israeli Liaison Office in Rabat, Alona Fisher Kamm, as well as the lighting of the “Hanukkah” candles.
Head of the Israeli Liaison Office in Rabat Alona Fisher Kamm delivered a speech at the ceremony.
It also featured musical performances by various bands including the Israeli Andalusian Orchestra–Ashdod, the rock band “Sfatayim,” and the Ballet group “Panov.”
Musical band performing during the ceremony
Commenting on the ceremony, Fisher Kamm said: “This event is a great opportunity to celebrate the great achievements of the last two years between our two countries: Visits by ministers, signing of agreements, developing tourism, culture and economic relations, and many other areas.”
Fisher Kamm told Morocco World News (MWN) that she was happy to celebrate the second anniversary of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between Morocco and Israel, describing it as a “special” and “historic” moment.
Performance during the ceremony
Speaking to Morocco World News on the sidelines of the event, Imam Abdullah Antepli, Professor of Practice at Duke University, emphasized Morocco’s deep and rich Jewish presence.
Antepli stressed: “Jews here [in Morocco] are not a minority; they are an essential part of Moroccan culture and history.”
He went on to say that Morocco should serve as a model for other Muslim countries in terms of reuniting with their Jewish minorities.
Musical performance during the ceremony
Highlighting Morocco’s religious coexistence, American-born Israeli author and journalist Yossi Klein Halevi spoke of being fascinated by the “civilizational relationship between Islam and Judaism that happened here in Morocco for many centuries.”
Lamenting the fact that this relationship was abruptly “interrupted 70 years ago,” Halevi stressed that he was glad that the “Jewish people and the Moroccan people are coming back together” after the two countries normalized their diplomatic
diplomatic.
Morocco has strongly supported several initiatives to strengthen ties with the Moroccan-Jewish community. Recently, the Council of Jewish Communities expressed its appreciation for Morocco’s strong attachment to Jewish diaspora.
In a speech in March 2019, King Mohammed VI emphasized the freedom to practice all religions in his country. “I protect Moroccan Jews as well as Christians from other countries, who are living in Morocco,” said the king.
Additionally, King Mohammed VI introduced an initiative to restore hundreds of historical Jewish sites in Morocco in December 2021.
