Moroccans growing opposed to normalization with 'Israel'
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The Israeli occupation is becoming largely unfavorable in Moroccan society mere years after the normalization agreement between the two.
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Protesters lift placards and flags of Palestine during a demonstration in Rabat on February 11, 2024. (AFP)
Analytical data from the Arab Barometer has revealed a significant shift in Moroccan public opinion regarding normalization with the Israeli occupation, largely influenced by the ongoing war in Gaza.
The survey, titled "The Future of Normalization and the War in Gaza," found that 48% of Moroccan participants support the "two-state solution" as the best resolution for the Palestinian issue.
The findings highlight a sharp decline in support for normalization between Rabat and Tel Aviv. According to the Arab Barometer, the war in Gaza has profoundly altered public attitudes toward normalization, with the harrowing images from Gaza turning previous supporters of "peace accords" with the Israeli occupation into opponents.
The data shows that Moroccan support for normalization plummeted from 31% in 2021 to just 13% in surveys conducted in 2023 and 2024. Additionally, only 9% of respondents expressed approval of normalization, with some describing the Israeli occupation's military campaign in Gaza as "genocide." Support for the two-state solution, meanwhile, increased by 7% compared to earlier survey cycles conducted in 2021 and 2022.
Establishment of an independent Palestine
Despite this shift, the data suggests a persistent commitment among Arab populations, including Moroccans, to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state as a pathway to peace. The growing support for the two-state solution reflects this sentiment, underlining the desire for a fair resolution to the conflict.
The survey also found that 21% of Moroccan respondents favor a "one-state solution" as an alternative resolution to the Palestinian issue. However, the Arab Barometer emphasized that achieving a "warm peace" between the Israeli occupation and Arab nations remains a formidable challenge.
Efforts to expand the normalization agreements known as the "Abraham Accords" to include Saudi Arabia and other countries face significant obstacles, as regional populations are reluctant to embrace the Israeli occupation without an honorable solution for Palestinians. Even if new agreements are reached, the likely outcome would be a "cold peace," similar to the occupation's relations with Jordan and Egypt.
'Blow to normalization'
The Israeli Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) revealed back in June cited a survey conducted by Arab Barometer that found normalization between the Israeli occupation and Morocco had taken a severe hit in light of the unfolding genocide in Gaza, mostly due to "Israel" falling further out of favor among the Arab public.
The public opinion survey highlights a steep decline in popular support for normalization between the Israeli occupation and Arab countries, including Morocco. Support has dropped dramatically from 31% in 2022 to just 13%, reportedly due to the ongoing war on Gaza.
According to the survey, Moroccans typically describe the events in Gaza as a massacre (26%), a war (24%), genocide (14%), or mass killing (14%). Since October, nearly weekly protests have been organized in Morocco in support of Palestinians, often calling for the severance of Israeli-Moroccan relations.
This trend exacerbates the tension between Morocco's official policy of maintaining relations with the Israeli occupation, albeit discreetly, and the growing popular and political opposition.
While key aspects of Israeli-Moroccan relations remain unaffected by the war on Gaza, such as bilateral trade and security ties, other pivotal areas have been significantly impacted, including public diplomatic relations, official visits, and tourism.
