Marrakech – The Unified Socialist Party (PSU) has submitted a memorandum to the Ministry of Interior regarding the 2026 legislative elections, calling for direct participation of Moroccans living abroad while explicitly excluding those residing in Israel from the electoral process.
According to converging reports, the PSU’s proposal specifically states: “It is strictly prohibited for any Moroccan citizen who has served in the Israeli occupation army or held military, political or civil responsibilities in the occupying state to run for election or vote.”
The party, led by Secretary General Jamal El Asri, extends this prohibition to “any Moroccan who has served in foreign armies.”
The PSU is known for its clear anti-Israel stance, actively participating alongside the Al Adl wal Ihsane Islamist movement in demonstrations organized by the Moroccan Front for Supporting Palestine and Against Normalization, which condemns the ongoing genocide in Gaza carried out by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) under Netanyahu’s far-right government.
Under Moroccan law, citizens are strictly prohibited from serving in foreign militaries, as this is seen as a breach of national loyalty and punishable by imprisonment, fines, and even the loss of citizenship rights.
The law is designed to safeguard Morocco’s national interests and military confidentiality, obligations that remain binding on citizens even after they complete their service at home.
This creates a direct conflict with Israel’s system, where military service – particularly in the IOF – is mandatory or strongly expected of its citizens.
As a result, Moroccans who migrated to Israel and obtained Israeli citizenship there find themselves, directly or indirectly, subject to Israel’s military laws and obligations, a situation that contradicts Moroccan legislation and raises sensitive issues of allegiance and national security.
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The same conflict extends to Israelis of Moroccan descent who later wish to apply for Moroccan citizenship: because Israeli citizens are tied to mandatory or reserve military service, their potential dual citizenship status clashes with Moroccan law.
This proposal would significantly impact the Moroccan-Israeli community, one of Israel’s largest diaspora groups. Between half a million and one million people of Moroccan descent live in Israel, primarily Jews who migrated during the 1950s-60s, especially through Operation Yachin (1961-64).
Their cultural impact on Israeli society is substantial, with Moroccan influences visible in food, music, and public life. The Moroccan-Jewish Mimouna feast has evolved into a mainstream Israeli celebration that attracts mass gatherings and political figures annually.
Israel’s 2019 census counted approximately 473,000 Israelis born in Morocco or with Moroccan-born fathers, though broader community estimates approach one million.
The PSU’s memorandum invokes the Moroccan Constitution, which guarantees the right of Moroccans living abroad to participate in elections. However, the party argues this right should not extend to those who have aligned themselves with what they consider an occupying power.
Proposed reforms seek transparency, inclusion, and diaspora representation
Beyond the Israel question, the PSU’s memorandum calls for broader electoral reforms. The party demands the establishment of an independent national electoral oversight body instead of the Interior Ministry, arguing that free and fair elections require a wide-ranging political opening and an environment of freedoms.
The PSU also proposes a comprehensive digitization of the electoral process through a national digital platform, covering nomination files and all legal and geographical information for citizens. They suggest implementing remote voting to boost participation among youth and Moroccans worldwide.
Regarding district mapping, the memorandum proposes adopting the principle of city unity in major urban centers and provincial unity elsewhere, with one legislative seat allocated per 100,000 people and a minimum of two seats in any province, based on the 2024 census results.
These proposals align with efforts from other civil society organizations. The Democratic Civil Council for Moroccan Immigration recently submitted detailed suggestions to Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit, advocating for overseas Moroccans to vote and run for office from their countries of residence.
They cite the 2026 elections as a historic opportunity to implement a right enshrined in the 2011 Constitution.
The Council recommends establishing polling stations abroad and creating dedicated parliamentary constituencies for the Moroccan diaspora, inspired by royal directives, particularly King Mohammed VI’s November 6, 2005 speech calling for overseas constituencies and his 2011 parliamentary address reaffirming the diaspora’s political rights.
