Diplomats from Turkey, Jordan, Ireland, and Palestine staged a walkout in Morocco in protest of Israeli Minister Miri Regev’s presence at a safety conference. Protests outside decried Morocco’s ties with Israel. The incident underscores heightened tensions in Morocco following Israel’s recent military actions in Gaza, as activists call for the cessation of diplomatic relations with Israel.
On February 18, 2024, diplomats representing Turkey, Jordan, Ireland, and the Palestinian Authority walked out of a global conference in Morocco in protest of Israeli Transportation Minister Miri Regev’s presence. The Israeli minister’s attendance has sparked renewed tensions regarding Morocco’s diplomatic relations with Israel, especially following a court ruling that allowed her to enter despite allegations of war crimes against Palestinians.
Regev attended the Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety and spoke at the Palais des Congrès, where the walkout occurred. This incident highlighted divisions over Israel’s involvement in Moroccan affairs as representatives from Gulf states, such as Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, opted to remain at the event. The minister is slated to participate in multiple conference activities on February 19 and 20.
Several pro-Palestinian activists gathered near the conference to protest Regev’s visit, voicing their objections to Morocco’s ongoing ties with Israel. A social media campaign also emerged, demanding her arrest. Activists condemned Regev, with Abou El-Hassan Youssef from the Moroccan Front Against Normalisation declaring, “We refuse the visit of this war criminal. She has the blood of Palestinians on her hands.”
During a media engagement, Regev described herself as having Moroccan roots, stating, “My father is from Casablanca.” She expressed gratitude to Moroccan authorities for the invitation, but did not address the controversy surrounding her attendance. Morocco established diplomatic relations with Israel in 2020 as part of the US-brokered Abraham Accords, emphasizing its historical Jewish heritage to justify these ties.
Following Israel’s military operations in Gaza on October 7, 2023, opposition to the normalization of relations surged in Morocco, leading to large-scale protests. Activists demanded that the Moroccan government sever its connection with Israel, although Rabat tolerated protests while maintaining diplomatic relations. Moroccan officials assert that their engagement with Israel aligns with support for the Palestinian cause.
Moreover, BDS Morocco criticized Rabat for quickly reigniting normalization efforts after the ceasefire, highlighting a recent arms deal with Israel and the revival of the Israeli embassy construction in Rabat. Local pro-Palestinian groups continue to pressure Moroccan authorities to end ties with Israel and close the Israeli liaison office in the country.
A significant protest occurred at a global conference in Morocco where diplomats from several nations walked out due to the presence of Israeli Minister Miri Regev. This action reflects rising tensions in Morocco regarding its relationship with Israel, especially following allegations of war crimes. Despite protests and calls for severing ties, Moroccan officials maintain that diplomacy with Israel does not compromise their support for Palestine.
Original Source: www.newarab.com
