Moroccan Prime Minister Snubs Israeli Foreign Minister’s Visit Amid Diplomatic Tensions

Yaïr Lapid, the Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs’ historic visit to Morocco does not please El Othmani. Last weekend, he once again displayed his opposition to the normalization of diplomatic relations between Morocco and Israel. His refusal to meet the guest as well. "Morocco will continue to support the Palestinian people at all levels," assured the head of government.

On May 21, Saâdeddine El Othmani, secretary general of the PJD, had sent a letter to Ismail Haniyeh, president of the Hamas political bureau, congratulating him "on the occasion of the victory of the Palestinian people and their strong resistance" against "the Zionist entity". The ceasefire agreement concluded between Israel and the Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip had just come into effect. The two sides had been engaged in an escalation of violence that had lasted 11 days.

This act by the leader of the Islamist party had provoked strong reactions from David Govrin. "I was surprised by the statement of the Moroccan Prime Minister, Mr. El Othmani, who supported and congratulated the terrorist organizations Hamas and Islamic Jihad," reacted the head of the Israeli liaison office in Morocco, in a tweet on May 25. "Whoever supports Iran’s allies strengthens its regional influence. Strengthening Iran, which sows destruction in Arab countries and supports the Polisario Front, is it not in contradiction with the interests of Morocco and the moderate Arab countries?" he had wondered.

The Israeli Foreign Minister will nevertheless meet with other senior officials during his official visit to Morocco, which began on Wednesday. Among them, his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, Nadia Fettah Alaoui, Minister of Tourism, as well as officials from the Ministry of Health. Yaïr Lapid will inaugurate the Israeli diplomatic mission in Rabat. Three cooperation agreements will be signed between the two countries.