Demonstrators Advocate for Morocco to End Diplomatic Relations with Israel; Focus Attention on Key Sea Ports
Unleashing the Tide of Resistance: Morocco's Persistent Protests Against Normalizing Ties with Israel
In Morocco's bustling port cities, the once peaceful environment has been shattered by a wave of discontent. The fuel for this upheaval lies in the government's decision to normalize ties with Israel, a move that has provoked two years of unrelenting demonstrations from the indignant Moroccan populace.
From the sea of Palestinian flags, 34-year-old Ismail Lghazaoui, an agricultural engineer, recently marched, adding his voice to the resurgent protesters in Tangier. Carrying signs bearing the defiant message "Reject the Ship" signified their fight against a vessel transporting fighter jet components from Houston, Texas, to Israel.
Activists demand Moroccan port officials to obstruct vessels carrying military cargo to Israel, mirroring Spain's actions from the previous year. Their ire is directed primarily at Danish shipping company Maersk, a vital player in transporting components destined for Lockheed Martin's F-35 assemblies, as part of the U.S. Defense Department's Security Cooperative Participant Program. Last year, Lghazaoui himself faced imprisonment due to this boycott campaign, but it did not deter him from rejoining the protests.
"They try to silence us," Lghazaoui told The Associated Press. "They were using me to discourage people or to keep them away from what they were doing." His resilience has made him one of over a dozen activists under scrutiny by Moroccan authorities for criticizing the government's ties with Israel.
Unrest Erupting in Crowded Streets
The fervor behind the protests against Moroccan-Israeli normalization has intensified during the Israel-Hamas conflict. Tens of thousands of Moroccans have thronged the streets, rallying against normalization, a stark contrast to the diplomatic endeavors of the government.
This groundswell includes families, students, leftists, and Islamists, along with more radical factions who have resorted to burning Israeli flags and chanting against the Jewish population. While security forces have thus far stood by, allowing demonstrators to voice their dissent, extremists have been met with swift and punitive action.
In a November rally in Casablanca, plainclothes officers brutally attacked Lghazaoui and others attempting to approach the U.S. Consulate. More recently, he used social media to bring attention to Maersk, leading to his arrest and charge of incitement. He served a reduced sentence of two months in prison and two on parole after the term was commuted.
The Struggle for Sovereignty: A strategic push against Israel-Normalization
Morocco, one of four Arab nations which normalized ties with Israel as part of the 2020 Abraham Accords, once saw U.S. support for its claims over the disputed Western Sahara as a reward for this diplomatic gesture. However, the mounting public resentment towards such normalization has grown exponentially over the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Aboubakr Jamai, the dean of the Madrid Center at the American College of the Mediterranean, commented, "I've rarely seen such a chasm between public opinion and the monarchy. What the power elites are doing goes completely against what the Moroccan people want."
An Islamist movement, Al Adl wal Ihsan, has played a significant role in the activism and mobilization of young people who feel disconnected from mainstream political parties. Originating in Morocco, this anti-monarchy Islamist group has grown in influence, spearheading pro-Palestinian activism alongside labor unions. Recently, Al Adl wal Ihsan has issued edicts urging the blocking of vessels carrying fighter jet components to Israel, further fueling the fervor among protesters.
The Pursuit of Silencing Dissent
Though Morocco's constitution purportedly protects free speech, it carries a caveat that prohibits criticizing the monarchy or King Mohammed VI. Those who dare to challenge this are subject to prosecution. The arrested activists have faced prison sentences for their protests and outspoken criticisms of the government's position on Israel.
Compared to Egypt and Jordan, Morocco shares similarities in its public support for Palestinians, while maintaining ties with Israel and jailing activists who voice dissent. However, unlike in these countries, the arrests in Morocco have done little to quell the indignation or curtail the demands for change.
In recent weeks, protesters have set their sights on Morocco's strategic ports and the companies using them to move military cargo, calling for the blocking of vessels carrying fighter jet parts suspected to be bound for Israel. This movement has garnered momentum, backed by both the country's largest labor union and religious scholars, many of whom are affiliated with Al Adl wal Ihsan.
Maersk responded to the accusations by acknowledging the shipment of fighter jet components through Moroccan ports but denying any direct ties to shipping military cargo to conflict zones. Nevertheless, a port official in Tangier claimed that cargo examination is selective, raising concerns about the potential for such shipments to enter Israel without scrutiny.
While Israel has not responded to queries about the shipments, the F-35s are typically assembled in the United States, using components sourced worldwide, including outer wings and display systems manufactured in Israel. Morocco's Foreign Ministry has yet to address queries regarding its port policies or the ongoing normalization contention.
The Emblem of Resistance: The Indigenous Amazigh and the Western Sahara Dispute
As the focus on Israel remains intense, some have questioned whether the unrelenting focus on Palestine has obscured more pressing domestic issues. The marginalization of Morocco's Indigenous Amazigh population, along with the ongoing dispute over Western Sahara, are concerns that have resurfaced in nationalist circles, advocating that these issues may better serve the nation's identity and sovereignty.
However, the Islamist Justice and Development Party, previously a proponent of normalization with Israel, has shifted its stance, reaching out to senior Hamas officials for a potential dialogue during its congress in Rabat. Despite Hamas officials being unable to secure visas to enter Morocco, the party's statement underscored a growing inclination to prioritize the Palestinian cause.
"Palestine will remain our primary cause," said Abdelilah Benkirane, a former prime minister and general secretary of the Justice and Development Party.
As Morocco grapples with the weight of protests and internal strife, the question remains: How will this wave of resistance shape the nation's future? Will it force the government to reevaluate its stance on Israel, potentially jeopardizing strategic alliances and economic partnerships, or will the winds of change eventually subside, leaving the current state of affairs intact? Only time will tell as the tale of Morocco's unyielding struggle unfolds.
- The protest movement in Morocco, sparked by the government's decision to normalize ties with Israel, has been heavily covered in general news and media.
- As the protests continue, the opinion of Moroccan citizens regarding politics and foreign policy, specifically towards Israel and the Western Sahara dispute, has become a topic of interest in the arts, particularly in artistic expressions and literary works.
- In the bustling city of Toronto, Moroccan expatriates have held demonstrations in solidarity with their homeland, adding another layer to the international news coverage of the ongoing protests.
- The business community in Morocco has been affected by the unrest, with some companies facing boycott campaigns due to their involvement in transporting military cargo to Israel. This has raised concerns about potential economic consequences in the long run.
- War-and-conflicts, particularly the Israel-Hamas conflict, have intensified the fervor behind the protests, contributing to a broader context of political upheaval and tumultuous relations.
- Despite the government's attempts to silence dissent by prosecuting activists who criticize the normalization of ties with Israel, the persistent protests indicate a strong stance by the Moroccan populace in expressing their opinions about politics and foreign policy.
