Renewed Calls in Morocco to Cut Parliamentary Ties with Israel
Opposition lawmakers demand the dissolution of a parliamentary group amid rising anti-normalization protests.
1Parliamentary Opposition Intensifies
Moroccan lawmaker Aziz Hannaoui recently demanded the dissolution of the Moroccan-Israeli Parliamentary Friendship Group. During a finance meeting on Tuesday, he labeled the group a moral and political error. Hannaoui, representing the Justice and Development Party, argued that maintaining formal legislative ties with Israel contradicts the nation's public stance regarding the Palestinians.
2Diplomatic Upgrade Triggers Backlash
Tensions escalated after the Israeli government announced in September that Rabat agreed to open mutual embassies. This decision followed an agreement between Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Sa'ar. The move to upgrade existing liaison offices to full embassies has sparked nationwide protests across Morocco throughout September and October.
3Historical Context of Accords
Morocco restored diplomatic relations with Israel in December 2020 as part of the US-brokered Abraham Accords. This agreement included the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Sudan. Since the signing, both nations have operated liaison offices in Rabat and Tel Aviv, aiming to deepen cooperation through various institutional frameworks and legislative exchange initiatives.
4Legislative Group Membership Dynamics
The Moroccan parliament established its friendship group in May 2023, two years after a similar initiative by the Israeli Knesset. While several parties initially joined, the Party of Progress and Socialism later withdrew, citing it as a mistake. Currently, the new House of Representatives has not yet announced the membership of its friendship groups.
5Calls for Total Severance
Beyond dissolving the friendship group, activists like Boubker El Ounkhari argue that such measures are insufficient. Members of the Moroccan Front for Supporting Palestine and Opposing Normalisation are pushing for the total termination of all normalization agreements. They believe the parliament should lead efforts to revoke the Abraham Accords and close the liaison office.
6Official Parliamentary Response
Parliament speaker Ahmed Touizi acknowledged the widespread public sympathy for the Palestinian people during the debate. However, he suggested that Hannaoui should address his concerns through formal bilateral discussions rather than public demands. The leadership maintains a cautious stance while navigating the pressure from opposition parties and the broader anti-normalization movement.
7Human Rights and Normalization
Ahmed Wihman, president of the Moroccan Observatory Against Normalisation, supports the call to end institutional ties. He argues that maintaining these frameworks during the ongoing conflict in Gaza is unjustifiable. Wihman asserts that Hannaoui’s position aligns with the country’s human rights obligations and the urgent need to delegitimize the current diplomatic status quo.
8Future Diplomatic Outlook
The debate reflects a deepening divide between government policy and public sentiment regarding the Abraham Accords. As protests continue, the pressure on the Moroccan government to reconsider its diplomatic trajectory remains significant. Observers are now watching to see if the new House of Representatives will formally reconstitute the controversial friendship group or yield.
Original article: The New Arab — Renewed Calls in Morocco to Cut Parliamentary Ties with Israel