Join on WhatsApp
Join on Telegram
Rabat – Morocco’s Royal Cabinet responded to recent criticism from the Justice and Development Party (PJD) regarding Morocco’s position on the Palestinian cause and its relations with Israel.
In a statement released on March 13, the Royal Cabinet described PJD’s comments as “irresponsible excessive views and dangerous approximations.”
The new statement comes in response to criticisms made in a recent release by the PJD following the party’s general secretariat meeting on Saturday, where they criticized Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, claiming that he defended Israel at regional and international meetings.
“The General Secretariat disapproves of the recent positions of the Foreign Minister who looked as if he was defending the Zionist entity in some African and European meetings, at a time where the Israeli occupation continues its criminal aggression on our Palestinian brothers especially in Palestinian Nablus,” the statement read.
It went on to recall Morocco’s position on the issue, calling for more efforts “to defend Palestine and Al-Quds in the face of escalating provocations and aggressive Zionist actions.”
The statement reiterated Morocco’s position on the issue, citing it as one of King Mohammed VI’s foreign policy priorities, and adding that he “places this issue on a par with the question of the Kingdom’s territorial integrity.”
Morocco has backed a two-state solution to the Palestine-Israel conflict, supporting the rights of Palestinians to have an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
“For Morocco, this is a constant, principled position, which should not be open to political posturing and narrow electoral campaigns,” the cabinet said.
The cabinet also stressed that the country’s foreign policy is considered “a prerogative” of the King, as per Morocco’s constitution.
“The Kingdom’s international relations cannot be the subject of blackmail by anyone or for any consideration whatsoever, particularly in the current complex global context,” the statement added. “The instrumentalization of the Kingdom’s foreign policy in a domestic partisan agenda thus constitutes a dangerous, unacceptable precedent.”
The cabinet concluded the statement with a reminder of the circumstances under which the re-establishment of ties with Israel was carried out, recalling that political parties and associations engaged in the Palestinian cause were informed of the decision and “expressed their support and commitment.”
Morocco resumed its ties with Israel in December 2020 with the signing of the joint declaration between Morocco, Israel, and the United States.
Since then, the North African country has developed its economic and diplomatic ties with Israel, while at the same time supporting the existence of a Palestinian state.
In January, US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said King Mohammed VI plays a “valuable” role in supporting the Palestinian people and advancing the two-state solution.
