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Yossi Ben David has reportedly replaced the controversial David Govrin as head of the Israeli liaison office in Morocco.
The appointment comes amid an investigation into accusations of sexual misconduct against Govrin.
The website African Intelligence reported the controversial appointment on Monday comes amid growing calls from NGOs and Moroccan citizens to sever diplomatic relations with Israel.
“While the appointment of his deputy Hassan Kaabia was reported by the Moroccan press, the appointment of Yossi Ben David, the new head of the liaison office between Tel Aviv and Rabat, has gone unmentioned,” the report said.
The news comes as Morocco continues to see scenes of nationwide protests against Israel’s genocidal campaign in Palestine, with many having taken to the streets across Morocco in recent weeks to express solidarity with Palestine.
Last month, thousands marched in Rabat and many other cities demanding an end of ties with Israel.
Mohammed Nabil Benabdellah, leader of the Party of Progress and Socialism told Morocco World News (MWN) during the protest that his party stood alongside all Moroccans to condemn “the heinous zionist aggression.”
“No to this heinous Zionist aggression, the aggression on Gaza, the aggression on the rest of Palestinian cities, the aggression on the Palestinian people, the heinous Zionist aggression that seeks to eliminate the Palestinian cause,” he said.
Read also: Survey: 50% of Moroccan Youth Support Normalizing Ties with Israel
Abdelilah Benkirane, former Moroccan Head of Government and current Secretary-General of the opposition Justice and Development Party (PJD), called for a reassessment of Morocco’s re-establishment of agreement with Israel. The normalization of Israel “no longer holds any reasonable, logical, or moral basis” amid the ongoing genocide in Gaza, he argued in September
“The agreements that bind our country with what is referred to as Israel no longer have any reasonable, logical, or moral justification. There must be a reconsideration of the normalization agreements between Morocco and what is known as Israel.” In a recent interview with Le Point, Moroccan Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita addressed concerns with regards to ties with Israel, saying the resumption of diplomatic relations does not imply support for the Israeli government’s actions.
“Morocco has strongly condemned, at the highest level, Israeli attacks on civilians, hospitals, and schools, deeming them unacceptable,” Bourita said, noting that King Mohammed VI has remained strongly committed to the Palestinian despite re-establishing ties with Israel.
Morocco’s approach does not signify abandonment of the Palestinian cause, Bourita added, noting that the country’s stance in solidarity with Palestine is as important as the preservation of its sovereignty over the Western Sahara region. Moroccan political parties, including PJD, have in recent weeks reiterated calls on Rabat to sever diplomatic ties with Israel.
In August, many in Morocco raised concerns as reports suggested that Hassan Kaabia would be appointed as the new head of the Israeli office in Rabat.
The same month witnessed reports saying that he was appointed and stirred controversy by inviting several Moroccan journalists to visit Israel in September.
Kaabia, who previously served as the Arabic language spokesperson for Israel’s Foreign Ministry, is already controversial for his remarks against resistance movements.
In 2023, he referred to those supporting the Palestinian cause and resistance movements like Hamas as “not human.”
