Palestinian Authority Silences Criticism of Morocco-Israel Normalization Deal

The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the Fatah movement and the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been instructed not to criticize Morocco and other Arab countries that are normalizing their relations with Israel, reports Al Araby Al Jadid. These instructions also apply to blogs, Twitter and other social media. Following these instructions, the Palestinian presidency, the official national media and the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs have refrained from any comment.

"We have received firm orders and instructions calling not to comment on Morocco’s normalization, and not to criticize any Arab state that has made the same decision," said a Fatah official who requested anonymity to the same media, adding that all the leading bodies, whether members of the PLO Executive Committee, the Fatah Committee, or ambassadors have received the same instructions. "President Abbas refuses to lose his Arab support, to find himself isolated like the former President Yasser Arafat," the same source confided.

The normalization of diplomatic relations between Morocco and Israel has provoked strong reactions. While many Arabs have accused the kingdom of abandoning the Palestinian cause, the leaders of Bahrain, Egypt, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and a number of Western countries have welcomed this decision. In the wake of this, the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, Nasser Bourita reassured of his country’s commitment to Palestine.