Morocco’s Royal Office blasts PJD on Palestinian issue

RABAT – The Royal Office of Moroccan King Mohammed VI lashed out Monday at the Justice and Development Party’s (PJD) statement regarding ties between Morocco and Israel, reminding the Islamist party that the country’s foreign policy is the king’s prerogative.

PJD Secretary General and former Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane accused Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita of having defended Israel during a meeting earlier this month with the European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi. 

During this meeting, Bourita announced a tripartite cooperation between Morocco, Israel and the European Union during a joint press conference with Varhelyi, a statement that angered Benkirane.

"While the Israeli occupation continues its criminal aggression against our Palestinian brothers, particularly in Nablus, the Moroccan Minister for Foreign Affairs appears to be a defender of Israel", Benkirane said.

“Religious, historical and humanitarian duty demands redoubled efforts at this critical juncture to defend Palestine and Jerusalem in the face of escalating Zionist provocations and aggressive practices," he added.

The Royal Office insisted that Morocco’s position on the Palestinian issue was irreversible.

“Firstly: Morocco's position regarding the Palestinian question is irreversible. It constitutes one of the priorities of the foreign policy of His Majesty the King, the Commander of the Faithful and Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, who places this issue on a par with the question of the Kingdom's territorial integrity. For Morocco, this is a constant, principled position, which should not be open to political posturing and narrow electoral campaigns,” said the Royal Office in a statement.

“Secondly: The Kingdom's foreign policy is a prerogative of His Majesty the King, may God assist him, as per the Constitution - a foreign policy which His Majesty implements in light of the immutable values and best interests of the nation, chief among which is the question of territorial integrity.

“Thirdly: The Kingdom's international relations cannot be the subject of blackmail by anyone or for any consideration whatsoever, particularly in the current complex global context. The instrumentalization of the Kingdom's foreign policy in a domestic partisan agenda thus constitutes a dangerous, unacceptable precedent.

“Fourthly: The resumption of relations between Morocco and Israel took place in circumstances and in a context which everyone knows. It is governed by the communiqué of the Office of His Majesty the King dated December 10, 2020, and the communiqué issued on the same day following the telephone conversation between His Majesty and the Palestinian President, as well as the Tripartite Declaration of December 22, 2020, signed in His Majesty's presence.

“The nation's driving forces, political parties, as well as some prominent figures, and certain associations engaged in the Palestinian question, were at the time informed of that decision, for which they expressed their support and commitment," it concluded.