According to ‘Maroc Coexistence’, normalization with Israel represents an opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations between Morocco and Israel, benefiting both countries, especially given the current regional and international challenges.
Reaction of the Moroccan Liberal Party: Rejection of Normalization and Defense of the Palestinian Cause
In contrast, the position of the Moroccan Liberal Party is entirely different. Issac Charia, Secretary-General of the party, announced his intention to file a legal complaint against the president of the ‘Maroc Coexistence’ association, Fayçal Marjani, accusing him of inciting terrorism against Palestinians and all those in solidarity with Gaza’s residents facing Israel’s war of extermination.
Charia also called upon “all honorable individuals to join us in preventing these blatant infiltration attempts and in confronting plans of discord, violence, and control of national sovereignty.”
On his Facebook page, the Moroccan political leader wrote that his party “received with great anger a press release from an association based in Morocco, with Zionist ties, falsely calling itself ‘Maroc Coexistence’. The association claims total solidarity with the Israeli government in its dirty war against the unarmed Palestinian people, and from Moroccan soil, it calls upon the Zionist army to continue killings and forced displacement. It also expresses its readiness to support these terrorist operations, using the Kingdom’s symbols and emblems to give the statement an official appearance.”
Issac Charia, who is also a lawyer, added: “Since calling for murder and terrorism is a crime under Moroccan law, in addition to being an incitement to discord and a deviation from the framework set by His Majesty the King, Commander of the Faithful, in supporting the Palestinian cause, it is also an obvious Zionist attempt to involve Morocco and its people in positions alien to its deep convictions in the justice of the struggle for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. Therefore, starting tomorrow, we will form a committee of lawyers from the Moroccan Liberal Party.”
The party’s statement described the association’s position as ignoring the suffering of Palestinians and encouraging normalization with an entity that continues to commit human rights violations.
The Moroccan Liberal Party believes that normalization with Israel contradicts Morocco’s national principles, which have always supported the Palestinian cause. The party sees recognition or support for Israel as a betrayal of Morocco’s traditional stance, where the Palestinian issue has always been central to its foreign policy.
Differences in Understanding and Interpretation: “Coexistence” and “Self-Defense” in the Political Arena
The difference between the association and the party lies in how certain terms like “coexistence” and “self-defense” are understood. While the association views normalization as an opportunity to build a bridge of understanding between peoples based on coexistence and peace, the party sees such a step as an assault on Palestinian rights and normalization with an entity that continues to occupy Palestinian lands.
The association bases its stance on the normalization agreements Morocco signed with Israel, which it considers a starting point to enhance cooperation in various fields. Meanwhile, the party views this cooperation as legitimizing Israeli occupation and encouraging further aggression against Palestinians.
Media Discourse and Public Debate: Growing Polarization
From tracking public debates in the media and on social networks, it is evident that there is a clear division in Moroccan society over the issue of normalization with Israel. While some believe that Morocco is taking steady steps to enhance its regional and international role through normalization, others strongly oppose this step, seeing it as a threat to the Palestinian cause and Morocco’s historical stances.
Repercussions on International Relations and Moroccan Strategies
Normalization with Israel is not just a diplomatic decision; it is part of Morocco’s strategy to strengthen its international
