Morocco’s Former PM: King, Not Islamist Party, Behind Israel Normalization Deal

"We were behind King Mohammed VI on the national cause. We defend our homeland as we defend the Palestinians. Nothing should be blamed on Saâdeddine El Othmani who signed the tripartite declaration (between Morocco, Israel and the United States)," said Abdelilah Benkirane in a video posted on his Facebook page.

According to the former Moroccan official, the radical Islamists in the Middle East, particularly Hezbollah in Lebanon, who are harshly criticizing the PJD and its secretary general, deserve to be put in their place. "They have the right to criticize Morocco, but they have no right to slander it. [...] You are under the tutelage of Iran, and you know nothing about Morocco, which has a rich 14-century history behind it," he hammered, before paying tribute to the Palestinians. According to him, the kingdom had to make a sacrifice to resolve the Sahara issue.

On December 10, 2020, the United States had recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara in exchange for the normalization of diplomatic relations between the kingdom and Israel. Abdelilah Benkirane also confided that he had received a call from Othmani and Fouad Ali El Himma, an advisor to King Mohammed VI, shortly before the signing of the agreement.