Morocco Plans Three Days of Protests Against Deepening Ties With Israel

Morocco is preparing for a new wave of protests against its deepening relationship with Israel, with activists announcing three days of nationwide demonstrations scheduled for September 25, 26, and 27. The protests are a direct response to a recent agreement between Rabat and Jerusalem to further expand diplomatic and economic ties. The "Moroccan Front to Support Palestine and Oppose Normalization," a non-governmental organization strongly against relations with Israel, has called on its branches to organize rallies across the country.

The catalyst for these protests was a meeting in New York on September 16 involving Israeli Foreign Minister G Gideon Saar, his Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita, and U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz. During this meeting, Israel and Morocco agreed to elevate their diplomatic representation to full embassies and exchange ambassadors. Additionally, both nations intend to re-establish direct flights by the end of the year, increase flight frequency, and finalize agreements on investment protection and the prevention of double taxation. Cooperation is also set to expand in areas including economy, technology, tourism, agriculture, energy, and security.

This move represents an acceleration of Morocco's policy initiated in 2020, when it restored diplomatic relations with Israel under a U.S.-brokered declaration. In exchange for this normalization, the United States recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. Activists have launched a social media campaign under the slogan "We don't want an Israeli embassy," opposing not only diplomatic rapprochement but also broader economic, trade, and military cooperation.

This is not the first instance of public discontent; on September 9, activists protested outside the parliament in Rabat, demanding the closure of the Israeli representation and an end to normalization. Despite this internal opposition, the official Moroccan stance, as articulated by Foreign Minister Bourita, is that relations with Israel align with the spirit of the Abraham Accords, promoting regional peace and stability. He emphasized the need for practical initiatives during the New York meeting.

The upcoming protests are seen as a significant test of public reaction to this new phase of Israeli-Moroccan relations, which now involves the prospect of full embassies and direct flights, moving beyond symbolic contacts. Public support for normalization in Morocco reportedly weakened after the October 7, 2023, Gaza war, despite the government's continued policy.