Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked's public statement that Israel supports Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara was naturally accepted by Moroccans, who saw it as a confirmation of the warm relations and traditional support Israel had felt for their country for many years, even before the two renewed diplomatic relations were formalized.
"This is Israel's attitude towards Morocco and not from today, since the 1980s there have been understandings on this issue, there has always been give and take, but now the move is of an official and diplomatic nature, and it is important to draw the relationship," Prof. Muhammad Almadlawi told Israel Today. Moroccan writer and researcher.
"There has always been give and take, and each side has interests. Beyond the issues of political essence, Morocco wants trade relations, it is looking for investment and economic development opportunities. Today there are about three million Moroccan citizens working outside the country. They are in Europe and America, engineers and other professionals. "Morocco and some of them will not. If the Israeli market opens up to us, there will be another country to go to, study and work in," he says in relation to the recent cooperation and agreements between the two countries regarding the recruitment of workers from Morocco for the construction and nursing industries in Israel.
"The connection between Israel and Morocco is special and different," he replies when asked about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the attitude of Moroccan public opinion to the Palestinian issue.
Unlike Egypt, where the gap between the political and security echelon that supports cooperation with Israel is noticeable, and the street that perceives Israel as an enemy, Morocco presents a slightly different model.
"In Morocco there is a special situation because of the Jewish community whose people take part in all areas of our lives. In government and politics, cultural life, economy, and everything else. The Jews in Morocco are very connected to the state, and there is a special connection between them and other groups in the population. It also radiates on the Palestinian issue. In general, Moroccan society has a desire to help the Palestinians, there are demonstrations of support and solidarity with them, but at the same time, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is treated with a certain pragmatism, and there is some tolerance for relations with Israel. "A desire to help the Palestinians, and at the same time maintain relations with Israel without it coming at this expense."
The head of the Moroccan Center for Tolerance and Interfaith Dialogue, Muhammad Abido, tells in a conversation with "Israel Today" about the changes that have taken place in Morocco in this context two years after the renewal of relations.
The official media has changed its agenda. The word "occupation" is almost non-existent in the official media since the resumption of relations with Israel. "Israel, in the sense that there is no hatred for it. There is curiosity, people want to know more about Israeli culture, the language, the Jews have always been part of our country and history."
Abido sounds very encouraging from the tightening ties with Israel, and says that beyond the intelligence-security cooperation that prevailed even before the signing of the agreements, Israel's support for Morocco's positions gives its country a significant boost in international and domestic arenas.
"Israel is with us, and we are with it. The Moroccans have lived with the Jews all these years. There are issues here that are more than interests. We feel that Israel really loves Morocco. And if it does, it happens at an important time, economic stagnation in the country "You are lucky and just waiting to go to work in Israel, it is for the benefit of all, working hands of Moroccans in Israel will be very beneficial to the economy."
"The fact that Israel declares that the Western Sahara is under Moroccan sovereignty is a big move and a position that Israel has chosen to express courageously. It will give a boost to other countries to follow Israel and declare that they too support Morocco's policy. To Morocco, which fought us through emissaries.Ran Iran's arms spread across Africa and reached our border, equipping the "Polisario Front" who fought against us and demanding independence in the Western Sahara, and not only that.The Iranians wanted to infiltrate the Shiites into Morocco and threaten the country's social fabric. ", He concludes with great satisfaction.
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