Jewish Community Leader in Morocco Faces Anti-Israel Verbal Attacks Amid Political Tensions

Jacky Kadoch, head of the Jewish community in the Marrakech region, was verbally attacked during a recent anti-Israel gathering in Morocco. At the event organized by the National Action Group for Palestine and the Moroccan Organization Against Normalization, Kadoch was labeled a "Israeli agent" and a "cancer in Morocco." The meeting included the symbolic act of placing an Israeli flag on the floor and speakers stepping on it. Despite these attacks, Kadoch, currently visiting Israel, told ynet he is not afraid and believes the real victim is Morocco itself, as such incidents damage the country's peaceful reputation abroad.

Kadoch attributed the hostility to internal political struggles ahead of Morocco's upcoming elections in September, suggesting Islamist parties are stirring unrest to gain influence. He emphasized that the Jewish community lives peacefully under King Mohammed VI's protection and that these attacks are baseless and temporary. A source close to the Jewish community noted that Aziz Ennawi, the secretary-general of the organizing groups and a known figure for similar inflammatory remarks, is actually harming Morocco by criticizing the king's decisions.

In response to the verbal attacks, local lawyer Faisal Omerzouk filed a criminal complaint against Ennawi, accusing him of incitement, defamation, and spreading hatred against Moroccan Jews. Omerzouk warned that such rhetoric threatens social peace and coexistence in Morocco and called for Ennawi to be prosecuted. Ennawi, for his part, claims the backlash against Kadoch stems from the latter's participation in an event with Moroccan youth visiting Israel, where controversial statements about the Prophet Muhammad were made. Kadoch denied involvement in those remarks and accused Ennawi of trying to ignite conflict. Ennawi also publicly criticized Omerzouk for filing the complaint, accusing him of defending those who insulted the Prophet while claiming to act with the king's blessing.