Morocco Denies Petition Delivery Calling for End to Israel Relations

When questioned on this subject at the end of the work of the government council, Mustapha Baitas explained that the petitioners did not follow the normal procedure. "As president of the National Petitions Commission, the process requires that the file be filed with the Commission, either with the ministry in charge of relations with Parliament. I did indeed receive a message asking me to set a date for the filing of this request. I will deal with this request and we will examine this petition within the framework of the Constitution and the law. The government’s opinion on this subject will then be expressed," he replied, recalling that petitions are governed by the 2011 Constitution, which gives citizens the possibility to express their opinions, deal with issues that concern them, submit requests or file petitions relating to development issues or requesting the establishment of laws and regulations.

Created under the government of El Othmani Saâdeddine in 2017, the Petitions Commission is a mechanism aimed at promoting participatory democracy. This mechanism is framed by the organic law relating to the exercise of the right to submit petitions in the legislative field to the public authorities. It allows citizens to participate in the management of public affairs, thanks to the mechanism of petitions provided for in Article 9 of Organic Law No. 44-14 defining the conditions and procedures for exercising the right to submit petitions to the public authorities.

Since the surprise and spectacular operation of Hamas on October 7 and the Israeli retaliation, pro-Palestinian demonstrations are regularly organized in several Moroccan cities to demand that Morocco break its diplomatic relations with Tel Aviv. A decision that Rabat is apparently not ready to take.