Transport Minister Miri Regev Faces Protests in Morocco Amid Ben Gurion Airport Chaos

Israeli Transport Minister Miri Regev's visit to Morocco sparked significant protests and backlash from various groups opposing normalization with Israel. Demonstrators in Marrakech, organized by Aziz Naoufi, secretary-general of the National Action Group for Palestine and the Moroccan Anti-Normalization Organization, carried Moroccan and Palestinian flags and signs condemning Regev's presence. Some factions called for her expulsion, viewing her visit as a provocation, especially given the regional tensions and her past statements supporting restrictions on mosque prayer calls. The protests coincided with the Muslim world’s observance of the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday, intensifying opposition. Online, hashtags supporting the Prophet Muhammad circulated to express disapproval of Regev’s visit and any perceived religious offense.

Aziz Naoufi had previously faced a defamation complaint filed by Jackie Kadoush, head of the Moroccan Jewish community in Marrakech, with Kadoush’s lawyer emphasizing Morocco’s commitment to equality among its Muslim, Jewish, and Moroccan citizens. Meanwhile, back in Israel on the same day as Regev’s visit, Ben Gurion Airport experienced severe operational disruptions, with thousands of passengers stranded, flight schedules in disarray, and luggage piled in long queues. The Israel Airports Authority blamed labor union disruptions, while the union chairman, Pinchas Idan, denied any planned strike, citing severe staff shortages and ignored warnings. Notably, Regev and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had toured Ben Gurion Airport just a day earlier, observing seemingly smooth summer operations, a stark contrast to the chaos that unfolded the following day.