Doha – Protests have erupted in Morocco over the casting of Israeli actress Eva Kadosh in the public television series “Nass El Mellah,” with activists calling for the show’s cancellation due to the actress’s reported support for Israeli military actions.

The 15-episode series, which began airing on Morocco’s Channel 2 (2M) on September 28, has become the center of controversy due to Kadosh’s social media posts supporting Israeli military operations.

The series depicts the lives of Muslim and Jewish families in Essaouira’s mellah district, with Kadosh playing the role of Messaouda, a beloved restaurant owner awaiting her niece Jeanine’s return from Canada.

Protests and public response

The Moroccan Front for Supporting Palestine and Against Normalization organized a protest on Tuesday outside 2M’s headquarters in Rabat, demanding the series be taken off air.

Mohammed El Ghafri, the national coordinator of the Front, told reporters that airing the series “represents a stab in the back of Moroccans who support the resistance of both Palestinian and Lebanese peoples.” He further stated that 2M is “disconnected from the feelings of Moroccans.”

Aziz Hennaoui, Secretary General of the Moroccan Observatory Against Normalization, told Moroccan media: “Even before Eva Kadosh appeared in the series, we knew her as a supporter of the Zionist army and a right-wing woman who supports the chief of staff in the Zionist war.”

Hennaoui also questioned Kadosh’s connection to Morocco, stating that “she only received her identity card in spring 2022 from the so-called Moroccan Liaison Office in Tel Aviv.”

Producer’s defense

The show’s producer, Ahmed Bouaroua, defended Kadosh in a statement to Assabah newspaper, claiming that attempts were being made to distort the actress’s image.

He emphasized that Kadosh, who was born in Rabat and currently resides in Marrakech, “holds a Moroccan national identity card and believes in coexistence between all Moroccans of different religions and origins.”

Bouaroua further stated, “Our king is the chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, and my country is one of the most supportive Arab countries of the Palestinian cause, but I support Moroccan Muslims, Jews, Christians, Amazigh, and Arabs.”

The series context

“Nass El Mellah,” directed by Jamila El Barji Benaissa, is set in Essaouira’s mellah neighborhood and focuses on the coexistence of several Muslim and Jewish families, including the family of Hajj Brahim and his neighbor Messaouda.

The series aims to highlight Morocco’s societal diversity and historical coexistence between Jews and Muslims.

Moroccan journalist Mustafa Elfanne criticized the series on his Facebook page, describing it as “suspicious” and “offensive to the nation.” He argued that the series sends a problematic message about property ownership and timing, particularly given current regional tensions.

‘Gaza will be erased today’

Social media activists have highlighted Kadosh’s previous posts supporting military actions, including images of signed shells and ammunition allegedly directed at Gaza infrastructure. These posts have since been deleted following the public backlash.

Kadosh, who is not a professional actress but rather known for her culinary content on social media, has faced increasing criticism for her political stances.

Eva Kadosh’s social media activity has revealed concerning positions that extend beyond her acting role.

On November 23 last year, she posted an image of an Israeli missile destined for Gaza with a handwritten message: “I hope these missiles strike you directly.” Accompanying the image, Kadosh wrote on her Facebook account: “Sending them: Hello and no goodbye.”

Her controversial statements began earlier, on October 7, 2023, when she posted “Gaza will be erased today,” expressing support for military actions against Gaza’s population of over 2.1 million people.

Photos have also emerged showing Kadosh with high-ranking Israeli officials, including former Israeli army chief Aviv Kochavi.

The Israeli actress, who primarily posts cooking content and claims Israeli origin for various popular dishes on her social media platforms, has also shared multiple posts supporting Israeli military operations from the Lebanese border to the Egyptian desert.

When the promotional poster for “Nass El Mellah” was released, Kadosh expressed excitement on social media, stating, “What a wonderful feeling, I received the image that will be displayed tomorrow in the streets of Morocco.”

After the first episode aired, she posted: “Yesterday, the first episode of the series in which I participated as the only Jewish actress was broadcast,” encouraging her Israeli audience to watch the show.

These revelations have particularly struck a nerve in Morocco, where massive demonstrations in support of Palestinians have taken place in various cities including Rabat, Casablanca, Essaouira, and Tangier.

The protests have consistently called for boycotting those who support military actions against Gaza, whether individuals or companies.

The controversy occurs against the backdrop of Morocco’s diplomatic relations with Israel, which were resumed in 2020, and reflects ongoing debates about cultural normalization between the two countries.