Israeli Diplomat Abruptly Leaves Post in Morocco for Personal Reasons

The reasons behind the departure of the deputy head of the Israeli liaison office in Morocco, Hassan Kaabia, who was also the former deputy spokesman for the Arab media at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are strictly personal and administrative, we learn from sources within the Israeli diplomatic mission in Rabat. The activities of the Liaison Office are continuing normally, and the representation remains fully committed to its mission of strengthening relations between Israel and Morocco, the same sources assure.

But the sudden departure of the Israeli diplomat raises questions, as it comes in a context of negative reactions to some of his previous statements and positions. He had criticized the solidarity expressed during the national march of support for the Palestinian people in Rabat on October 7, 2023. "Anyone who sympathizes with Hamas... is not human and has no connection with humanity and should reconsider their position," Kaabia had said.

This departure also follows the conflict between the head of the Israeli liaison office in Morocco and Kaabia. Yossi Ben-David, "known for his tendency to stay out of the spotlight," expressed great reservations about his deputy’s media appearances and openness to the media. Tensions then arose between the two diplomats. The head of the liaison office even filed a complaint against Kaabia with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tel Aviv.

The latter "asked Kaiba, who threatened to resign from his post and return to Tel Aviv, to continue his administrative work within the liaison office until the end of his assignment period, while staying out of the spotlight and any position or statement likely to provoke Moroccan public opinion, as well as to avoid any problem with Ben David," report the same sources.