Morocco Protests Escalate as Government Advances Diplomatic Ties with Israel

Pro-Palestine demonstrations have swept through multiple Moroccan cities, challenging Rabat’s ongoing efforts to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties with Israel. The latest wave of mobilization occurred on September 27, concluding a three-day campaign organized by the Moroccan Front for Supporting Palestine and Against Normalisation.

The protests gained urgency following a September 16 announcement that Morocco and Israel would elevate their diplomatic missions from consulates to full embassies and exchange ambassadors. The Moroccan Committee for Supporting the Nation’s Causes reported organizing 76 events in 45 cities under the banner “Friday for Al-Aqsa and against normalisation” starting September 25.

Major gatherings were reported in Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakesh, Tangier, Fez, Agadir, Oujda, Tetouan, Kenitra, and Sale. In the capital, protesters assembled outside Parliament, while in Marrakesh, the rally evolved into a march through central thoroughfares, according to local outlet Lakome.

Authorities imposed restrictions in several locations. In Tangier, a planned demonstration was banned, and security forces dispersed hundreds of participants, detaining at least 12 individuals. In M’diq, protests were prevented, and in Agadir, security forces surrounded a gathering to stop it from becoming a march. The Moroccan Committee for Supporting the Nation’s Causes later condemned these bans and arrests.

Morocco originally restored diplomatic relations with Israel in December 2020 under the US-brokered Abraham Accords, a move linked to Washington’s recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. The recent agreement, confirmed during a trilateral summit in New York hosted by US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz, also includes plans for investment protection treaties, double taxation avoidance agreements, expanded direct flights, and high-level reciprocal visits.

Experts note a significant disconnect between official foreign policy and public sentiment. Kathya K Berrada, senior programmes manager at the Arab Center for Research, told Al Jazeera that normalization is being consolidated amid unprecedented public anger over the war in Gaza. Activist Mouna Rahiani cited the Arab Opinion Index, which found that 89 percent of Moroccans oppose recognition of Israel, while only six percent support it.

The political landscape shifted following parliamentary elections on September 23. The Authenticity and Modernity Party secured 97 of 395 seats, followed by the National Rally of Independents with 66, the Istiqlal Party with 65, and the Party of Justice and Development (PJD) with 54. Turnout dropped to 38.08 percent, down from 50.86 percent in 2021.

The PJD, which was in power when the 2020 normalization deal was signed by then-Prime Minister Saadeddine el-Othmani, has reaffirmed its opposition to relations with Israel. Following the September 16 announcement, the PJD’s general secretariat reiterated its rejection of normalization. After the election, the party’s national council unanimously decided to remain in parliamentary opposition rather than join the next government.

While the PJD’s increased parliamentary presence provides a stronger voice for opposition, analysts suggest it is unlikely to alter Morocco’s foreign policy direction. The normalization agreement remains embedded in a broader strategic framework involving the United States and support for Morocco’s position on Western Sahara, which is set for UN Security Council review in October.

Berrada emphasized that while the protests demonstrate sustained organizational capacity, they do not necessarily reflect the views of the entire population or guarantee a shift in government policy. The situation underscores a persistent tension between a state pursuing deeper institutional ties with Tel Aviv and a public increasingly mobilized against the normalization process.