The march in support of Gaza which took place on Sunday in Rabat, Morocco, sparked a huge mobilization with hundreds of thousands of people in attendance. The event marked the largest gathering of its kind in twenty years and focused attention on the issue of normalizing relations between Morocco and Israel.
The demonstration, which aimed to express solidarity with the Palestinian people and call for the suspension of normalization, highlighted the delicate dilemma facing the Moroccan government. On the one hand, it must meet the expectations of the Moroccan population and take into account the pro-Palestinian sentiment expressed during the march. On the other hand, he must also consider the commitments made within the framework of the normalization of relations with Israel.
This situation puts the government in a delicate position, forced to juggle diplomatic interests and the aspirations of the Moroccan people. The normalization between Morocco and Israel, which was signed at the end of 2020, allowed an increase in trade between the two countries, with a figure estimated at $56 million in 2022. However, this normalization is strongly contested by part of the Moroccan population who are calling for a boycott of Israeli products and companies.
Faced with this tension, the Moroccan government tried to calm things down by increasing contacts with the Palestinian authorities. He also moderated his comments regarding cooperation with Israel, taking a more cautious stance and taking into account the pro-Palestinian sentiment expressed at the protest.
This event highlights the importance of the Palestinian issue in the Arab world and highlights the challenges faced by governments trying to normalize relations with Israel. The Moroccan people, through this demonstration, showed that they were ready to defend the rights of the Palestinian people and to question normalization if it goes against their values and aspirations.
In conclusion, the march in support of Gaza in Rabat was a major event which highlighted the tensions between the normalization of relations between Morocco and Israel and the aspirations of the Moroccan population towards the Palestinian cause. The Moroccan government finds itself in a delicate position, having to juggle diplomatic interests and the expectations of the population. This march underlines the importance of the Palestinian question in the region and reminds that the normalization of relations with Israel is a controversial subject which requires in-depth reflection.