https://www.middleeastmonitor.com Latest news from the Middle East and North Africa Tue, 08 Aug 2023 13:42:37 +0000 en-GB Middle East Monitor 30 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.2 https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/favicon.png?fit=32%2C32&quality=85&strip=all&zoom=1&ssl=1 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com 32 32 116394717 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230804-moroccan-womens-football-team-progress-to-world-cup-final-16/ Fri, 04 Aug 2023 11:29:39 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657998 WATCH: French pundit lashes out at hijabi footballer]]> 657998 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230803-moroccan-sentenced-to-five-5-after-facebook-posts-criticising-normalised-ties-with-israel/ Thu, 03 Aug 2023 12:08:01 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657863 A Moroccan court has sentenced a blogger to five years in prison over posts on Facebook criticising the normalisation of relations with Israel that were deemed "offensive" to the monarchy, according to his lawyer. Lawyer Hassan Al-Sunni told AFP that his client, Saeed Boukayoud, 48, "was sentenced to five years in prison on Monday for Facebook posts denouncing normalisation with Israel in a way that could be interpreted as criticism of the King." The facts of the case go back to December 2020, when Boukayoud, who resides in Qatar, published posts rejecting the agreement, which at that time required Morocco to resume its relations with the occupation state of Israel in return for the US recognising its sovereignty over the Western Sahara, according […]]]> 657863 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230803-french-pundit-lashes-out-at-hijabi-footballer/ Thu, 03 Aug 2023 12:00:32 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657858 READ: France calls on Israel to end all unilateral measures likely to fuel tensions]]> 657858 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230803-poll-more-than-70-of-moroccans-want-to-emigrate/ Thu, 03 Aug 2023 08:09:07 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657763 Some 71 per cent of Moroccans are willing to emigrate to advance their careers, a new poll has found. Conducted by Bayt, the largest job recruitment website in the Middle East, in cooperation with YouGov, the poll also revealed that 71 per cent of employees are willing to move to another field or sector if this would enable them to emigrate, while 49 per cent wanted to work in higher positions. A previous poll, held in December 2021, showed that 70 per cent of Moroccans were considering emigrating. According to the study prepared by the National Observatory of Human Development (ONDH), seven out of ten young Moroccans were tempted to emigrate abroad, and 83 per cent were not satisfied with their lives. […]]]> 657763 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230731-dominican-republic-recognises-moroccos-sovereignty-over-western-sahara/ Mon, 31 Jul 2023 08:25:22 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=656623 The Dominican Republic has recognised Morocco's sovereignty over the Western Sahara, news sites reported on Sunday. In a letter, Foreign Minister of the Dominican Republic, Roberto Alvarez, told his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, that his country "reiterates its absolute recognition of the Moroccanness of the Sahara." The Moroccan Foreign Ministry also said that Santo Domingo plans to open a consulate in the city of Dakhla of the Western Sahara, which is controlled by Morocco. Earlier this month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a letter to Moroccan King Mohammed VI notifying him of Tel Aviv's decision to recognise Rabat's sovereignty over the Western Sahara. The Western Sahara, a former colony of Spain, was transferred to the control of Morocco and Mauritania in 1975. […]]]> 656623 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230730-moroccos-al-quds-charity-signs-education-agreement-with-islamic-supreme-council/ Sun, 30 Jul 2023 11:45:45 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=656474 Morocco's Bayt Mal Al-Quds Acharif Agency, a charity focused on the development of Al-Quds has entered a cooperation agreement with the Islamic Supreme Council of Al-Quds yesterday, aimed at supporting education in the holy city. According to Morocco World News, the agreement aims to enhance the partnership between the two institutions by collaborating in various areas. It was signed at the headquarters of the Islamic Supreme Council between Ismail Ramli, the coordinator of programs and projects at Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency, and Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, the President of the Islamic Supreme Council. In a statement Sabri said "This comprehensive accord encompasses the establishment of an endowment library to support a vital documentation project, the organisation of the 7th academic conference […]]]> 656474 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230729-bahrain-announces-postponement-of-israel-foreign-minister-visit/ Sat, 29 Jul 2023 09:34:09 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=656396 Israel's Kan channel reported on Friday night that Bahrain had postponed the visit of the Israeli Foreign Minister to the country. According to the Israeli channel, commentators believe Bahrain postponed Foreign Minister Eli Cohen's visit, scheduled for next week, because Itamar Ben-Gvir visited Al-Aqsa Mosque on Thursday. The number of visits by senior Israeli officials to Arab countries during the first six months of the current government's term is much less compared to the same period of the Naftali Bennett-Yair Lapid government's term. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant did not visit any Arab countries, while his predecessor Benny Gantz visited Morocco and Bahrain. READ: Israel Air Force chief warns of security threat from judicial reform crisis]]> 656396 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230728-top-biden-adviser-in-saudi-arabia-for-high-level-talks/ Fri, 28 Jul 2023 15:06:59 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=656084 US National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, met Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, on Thursday in Jeddah, the White House said, as US officials search for ways to reach a deal normalising ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia, Reuters reports. US officials have sought for months to reach what would be a historic agreement between the long-time adversaries, but the Saudis have been resistant. President Joe Biden said on CNN in early July that Israel and Saudi Arabia are a long way from a normalisation agreement that would involve a defence treaty and a civilian nuclear program from the United States. Sullivan, who was joined by White House Middle East coordinator, Brett McGurk, met bin Salman and senior Saudi officials and […]]]> 656084 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230728-the-pros-and-cons-of-israel-recognising-moroccos-sovereignty-over-the-western-sahara/ Fri, 28 Jul 2023 13:00:32 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=656042 Following the Israeli recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over the Western Sahara, Israeli voices are still raising more questions about the feasibility of this step, and whether it will be beneficial, or if it will be followed by greater harm, especially since such a step may face criticism on the international scene. This may be added to the criticisms the Occupation State is already facing regarding its behaviour in the Palestinian arena. While this step is consistent with Israel's stances towards the Palestinians, it contradicts international resolutions issued by the UN and EU, which may raise many questions related to annexation and occupation. The first Israeli benefit from this step is that it will gain broader control in Africa. There is […]]]> 656042 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230726-turkiye-welcomes-un-general-assemblys-resolution-deploring-desecration-of-holy-books/ Wed, 26 Jul 2023 19:19:42 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=655283 Turkiye welcomed the UN General Assembly's resolution that deplores all acts of violence against Holy Books as a violation of international law, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday, Anadolu Agency reports. "We welcome the decision of the UN General Assembly, which took place on 25 July, 2023, to consider any form of violence against sacred books as a violation of international law, and we are pleased that our country is also a co-sponsor of this resolution." It added this resolution holds particular significance in light of recent incidents in Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands, where police protection was granted for the burning of copies of the holy Quran. READ: 'Hatred against Muslims in Europe threatens co-existence' "These hate crimes […]]]> 655283 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230726-irregular-migrant-dies-on-boat-near-spain/ Wed, 26 Jul 2023 13:46:38 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=655190 The Spanish Maritime Rescue Service said yesterday that a dead person had been found on a boat carrying 84 irregular migrants, which was spotted near the Canary Islands in the Mediterranean. The service said in press statements that its members were able to rescue 84 irregular immigrants who were on a boat near the Spanish island of Gran Canaria (the third largest of the Canary Islands), while one person was found dead, according to the American ABC network. The survivors were 83 men and one woman, all from sub-Saharan Africa. The Spanish authorities said the boat was spotted by radar and tracking devices belonging to the Spanish Civil Guard before dawn yesterday. According to the Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras, nearly […]]]> 655190 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230724-morocco-opposition-calls-for-end-to-normalisation-with-israel/ Mon, 24 Jul 2023 12:17:38 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=654786 The Moroccan Unification and Reform movement, the advocacy wing of the opposition Justice and Development Party, renewed yesterday its rejection of normalisation with Israel. "This is a path that might turn Morocco into an arena for regional and international conflicts and Israeli infiltration, in a manner threatening security and stability in the region," it explained. The movement issued its statement after its annual general meeting, which lasted for three days in Taroudant. "Normalisation is not consistent with the role of Morocco, which has been involved strongly in supporting Palestinian rights and struggle." It called upon the government in Rabat "to withdraw from the path of normalisation, sever relations with Israel, and align itself with Morocco's glorious history in supporting Jerusalem." […]]]> 654786 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230720-algeria-criticises-israel-recognition-of-morocco-sovereignty-over-western-sahara/ Thu, 20 Jul 2023 15:56:39 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=654184 Algeria, on Thursday, strongly criticised Israel's recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara region, saying the move is a violation of international law, Reuters reports. Morocco considers Western Sahara its own territory, but the Algerian-backed Polisario Front wants an independent state there. In 2020, then-US President Donald Trump recognised Morocco's claim to the territory in return for Morocco's resumption of diplomatic ties with Israel. Israel, on Monday, recognised Morocco's sovereignty. "The decision … can in no way legitimise sovereignty over occupied Sahara lands," the Algerian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Algeria cut diplomatic ties with Morocco in 2021, citing what it said were "hostile acts". Algerian President, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, said this year that relations between the two countries had reached "a point of no return". […]]]> 654184 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230720-morocco-court-rejects-appeals-by-jailed-journalists/ Thu, 20 Jul 2023 11:02:52 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=654098 The highest court in Morocco, the Court of Cassation in Rabat, has rejected the final appeals of two jailed journalists, their lawyer Miloud Kandil said on Wednesday. Omar Radi and Suleiman Raissouni have had their prison sentences upheld by the court. Radi, 37, and Raissouni, 51, were sentenced to six and five years in prison respectively, in two separate "sexual assault" cases. They both denied the accusations and claimed that the trial was "political". The authorities insisted that the trials were "just and fair". They have been held in prison since 2021. READ: Morocco rescues 900 migrants in 8 days Prior to the court decision being announced, the journalists' lawyers and human rights organisations urged the Moroccan authorities to find a […]]]> 654098 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230720-morocco-king-invites-israel-pm-for-official-visit-after-western-sahara-recognition/ Thu, 20 Jul 2023 09:36:24 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=654080 Morocco's King invited Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, for an official visit, the Prime Minister's office said in a statement on Wednesday, two days after Israel recognised the Kingdom's sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara, Reuters reports. In a personal letter, which was confirmed by Morocco's national news agency, MAP, King Mohammed VI thanked Israel for its position and said Netanyahu's visit "would open new opportunities for strengthening bilateral relations". Israel's national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, and Moroccan Foreign Minister, Nasser Bourita, agreed on Wednesday to set a date "in the near future" for what would be Netanyahu's first visit to the Kingdom, the Prime Minister's statement said. Morocco considers Western Sahara its own territory, but the Algerian-backed Polisario Front wants […]]]> 654080 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230720-morocco-rescues-900-migrants-in-8-days/ Thu, 20 Jul 2023 08:57:16 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=654069 According to the latest figures from the Spanish Ministry of Interior, 12,704 migrants arrived in Spain illegally in the first half of the year, the majority – 7,213 – landed in the Canary Islands. For its part, the Moroccan authorities said they have thwarteThe Moroccan Navy has rescued 845 irregular migrants and recovered the body of one over the past eight days, amid a rise in attempts to reach the Spanish Canary Islands in the Atlantic,  state news agency MAP reported. "The Royal Navy Coast Guard units provided assistance, during the period between July 10 and July 17, to 845 candidates for illegal immigration of different nationalities, most of whom hail from sub-Saharan African countries," MAP quoted a military source […]]]> 654069 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230719-morocco-to-become-first-african-country-to-become-partner-of-asean/ Wed, 19 Jul 2023 11:33:48 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=653647 Morocco has received an agreement in principle to become a Sectoral Dialogue Partner with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which would be a first for an African country. The decision was made during the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 11-12 July. A formal decision will be made at the upcoming 43rd ASEAN Summit. The announcement was made by Rabat yesterday with a press release from Morocco's Ministry of Foreign Affairs which said the achievement will contribute "to regional peace, stability, security, and development and prosperity in both regions." ?Statement: Morocco receives the agreement in principle to obtain the status of Sectoral Dialogue Partner from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).?https://t.co/qHZDq2vOhW@ASEAN pic.twitter.com/VizYmddEgT — Moroccan Diplomacy ?? […]]]> 653647 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230718-israel-appoints-first-military-attache-to-morocco/ Tue, 18 Jul 2023 14:21:10 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=653320 Israel has appointed its first military attaché to Morocco, in a sign of improving security relations between the two countries, Anadolu news agency reported. A statement issued by the Israeli army, said Chief of the General Staff Herzi Halevi appointed Colonel Sharon Itah as the first military attaché to Morocco. According to the statement, the military attaché will reside in Rabat and be responsible for "developing and strengthening all security relations with Morocco." READ: Israel cuts water supply to Palestinians in Hebron The Israeli army described the move as "historic" in the context of Arab relations with Israel, adding that the appointment was the culmination of several steps witnessed over the past two years, including the visit of senior military leaders […]]]> 653320 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230717-morocco-says-israel-recognises-its-sovereignty-over-western-sahara/ Mon, 17 Jul 2023 18:33:21 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=653206 Morocco said, on Monday, that Israel has recognised its sovereignty over the disputed territory of Western Sahara and is mulling opening a consulate there, Reuters reports. A statement from Morocco's Royal Palace said Israel's position was expressed in a letter to King Mohammed VI from Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. The Algerian-backed Polisario Front demands an independent state in Western Sahara. In 2020, then-US President Donald Trump recognised Morocco's claim to the territory in return for its partial upgrade of relations with Israel. The Israeli position "will be sent to the United Nations, regional and international organisations … as well as all the States Israel has diplomatic relations with," the statement from Morocco's Royal Palace quotes the letter as saying. […]]]> 653206 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230715-algeria-detains-28-person-morocco-smuggling-network/ Sat, 15 Jul 2023 10:28:06 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=652397 The Algerian Gendarmerie Nationale on Friday detained a network of 28 Moroccans and four Algerians who arranged secret immigration trips to Spain, Al-Quds Al-Arabi reported. In a statement, the Gendarmerie Nationale in the governorate of Wahran disclosed that it: "Dismantled an international criminal network specialised in planning and organising secret voyages setting off from Morocco to Spain, passing through Algeria." The detention of this network came after intelligence efforts related to the smuggling of immigrants to Spain were intensified. According to the statement, the network comprises 32 people, including 28 Moroccans and four Algerians. The gendarme seized a boat, four tourist cars, a large sum of Algerian, Moroccan, Euro and Turkish cash, passports and mobile phones. The group collect people […]]]> 652397 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230711-ex-tottenham-coach-conte-in-morocco-for-family-vacation/ Tue, 11 Jul 2023 11:45:35 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=651370 Former professional footballer and former head coach of Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, Antonio Conte, arrived in Morocco to spend his summer vacation with his family this week. Conte, his wife Elisabetta and teenage daughter Vittoria chose the Moroccan coastal city of Agadir to spend part of their summer vacation. According to the local Agadir TV website, the Italian coach accompanied visited a number of tourist attractions in the city, including Agadir Beach, where citizens gathered around him to take photos. The site added that Conte shared with his social media followers pictures of his visit to the commercial complex, Souk El-Ahad in Agadir, in which he appeared with his wife and daughter, as they toured the market and purchased a number […]]]> 651370 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230711-morocco-records-21-increase-in-tourist-numbers/ Tue, 11 Jul 2023 11:14:17 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=651343 There has been a 21 per cent increase in the number of tourists who visited Morocco in the first half of 2023, the Ministry of Tourism said yesterday, when compared to the same period in 2019, before the outbreak of the coronavirus. The ministry's statement said that 6.5 million foreign tourists visited Morocco, which generated 41 billion dirhams ($4.1 billion) in revenues during the first six months of the year, recording an exceptional growth of 42 per cent compared to 2019. According to the statement, 1.4 million foreign tourists visited Morocco in June alone, an increase of 25 per cent compared to the same month of 2019. The majority of the tourists came from Spain; an increase of 79 per […]]]> 651343 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230708-rights-organisations-call-on-morocco-not-to-extradite-palestinian-to-israel/ Sat, 08 Jul 2023 12:02:48 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=650587 The Moroccan Coalition for Human Rights Organisations wrote to Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch to urgently intervene to prevent the extradition of a Palestinian citizen. A Moroccan judicial decision was issued against him, stipulating his extradition to the Israeli occupation authorities. The Moroccan Coalition for Human Rights stated, in the letter addressed to Akhannouch and published by the Moroccan Lakum website, that the matter concerns Nassim Khalibat, who was arrested in Morocco. The human rights coalition stated that it is following the file of Khalibat with much concern after a Moroccan judicial decision was issued to accept his extradition to the Israeli occupation authorities, despite this decision contradicting Morocco's international obligations. These obligations went into effect when the Convention against Torture […]]]> 650587 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230708-has-the-normalisation-train-reached-the-end-of-the-line-in-morocco/ Sat, 08 Jul 2023 10:17:51 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=650510 In the past few days, two important positions were expressed that provide important information regarding the normalisation path between Morocco and Israel and the point it has reached. The first position was issued by Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, who announced the postponement of the Negev Forum until political conditions develop. This was against the backdrop of the Israeli escalation and settlement policies. Bourita expressed during a press conference with his Swiss counterpart Ignacio Cassis in Rabat that the forum needs objective conditions to be met to achieve its objectives to support security and peace in the region. It is hoped to be organised at the beginning of the next season. The second position was issued by Israeli Foreign Minister […]]]> 650510 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230706-germany-morocco-stress-un-key-to-western-sahara-solution/ Thu, 06 Jul 2023 18:15:19 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=650234 Germany and Morocco reiterated the need for an UN-backed diplomatic solution, Thursday, to the West Sahara conflict, Anadolu Agency reports. "We know that the Western Sahara question is particularly central to them (Morocco). So, you know our long-standing support for the process led by the United Nations. It is the most promising path to a fair, pragmatic, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution," German Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, said at a news conference in Berlin with her Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita. She added that Morocco's autonomy plan for the Sahara region, presented in 2007, could be a good basis for a solution accepted by all parties to the conflict. The remarks were partially echoed by her Moroccan colleague who said […]]]> 650234 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230706-nearly-1000-migrants-died-trying-to-reach-spain-in-first-half-of-2023/ Thu, 06 Jul 2023 16:38:07 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=650226 A total of 951 migrants died trying to reach Spain in the first half of 2023, according to a report published Thursday by the Walking Borders organisation, Anadolu Agency reports. The victims came from 14 countries – from Morocco to Congo, Syria to Sudan to Sri Lanka, according to the report. Most perished during the Atlantic voyage to the Canary Islands. An estimated 778 died on the route, including all passengers on 19 vessels, making it one of the deadliest migration routes in the world. Included in the figure are an estimated 36 people who died in June in the waters between Spain and Morocco. Their rubber dinghy had been sending messages of help for more than 10 hours before […]]]> 650226 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230706-oman-reaffirms-support-for-moroccos-territorial-claims-over-western-sahara/ Thu, 06 Jul 2023 13:20:11 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=650172 Oman has declared its "unwavering" support for Morocco's territorial integrity, which includes the kingdom's long-standing claims of sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara. On Tuesday, the sultanate announced its backing for the Moroccan autonomy plan, describing it as a "serious, realistic and credible" initiative and a "basis for resolving the issue" of territory. Muscat's position was expressed in a joint statement at the end of the 6th session of the Moroccan-Omani Joint Commission, which was co-chaired by Morocco's Foreign Minister, Nasser Bouritam and his Omani counterpart, Badr Bin Hamad Bin Hamoud Al-Busaidi. READ: Oman FM in talks with Israel to visit Al-Aqsa Mosque In addition to declaring Oman's support for Rabat's territorial claims, the sultanate expressed its appreciation for "the wisdom of the Moroccan leadership […]]]> 650172 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230705-growing-anger-after-1-8m-raised-for-french-officer-who-killed-17-year-old-teen/ Wed, 05 Jul 2023 12:46:30 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=649871 There is growing anger over a campaign to raise money for the family of the policeman who shot dead 17-year-old French-Algerian teenager, Nahel M, last Tuesday. Nearly $2 million ($1,636,190) has been raised so far by the GoFundMe campaign launched by a member of the French far-right. A similar collection to help the family of the victim has raised €424,739 ($462,069). Nahel was killed a week ago in Nanterre outside Paris after being stopped by two motorcycle patrol officers and shot at point-blank range. An officer is under investigation for culpable homicide but that has not stopped thousands of people donating on his behalf. More than 85,000 people have donated so far, highlighting deep divisions in France. The shooting led to a wave […]]]> 649871 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230705-france-police-shooting-of-teen-sign-of-institutional-islamophobia-says-expert/ Wed, 05 Jul 2023 11:45:50 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=649738 Last week's fatal police shooting of a 17-year-old boy in a Paris suburb should not be seen as an individual, isolated case, but rather it lays bare France's institutional racism and Islamophobia, according to a British social theorist and expert on colonialism. Salman Sayyid is professor of social theory and decolonial thought at the University of Leeds; the manner of Nahel's killing is "not new," he said. "The French state and sections of society have been pursuing an Islamophobic orientation for a number of years," Sayyid told Anadolu. "I think it [Nahel M's killing] is a sign of institutional Islamophobia and institutional racism in the French law enforcement system, in the French criminal justice system, and in the French state […]]]> 649738 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230704-abraham-accord-arab-states-seen-sticking-with-israel-despite-jenin-violence/ Tue, 04 Jul 2023 18:47:00 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=649679 Public fury is growing in the Arab world over one of Israel's biggest military operations in the Occupied West Bank in years, yet Arab states which normalised ties with Israel are unlikely to turn their condemnation of the Israeli assault into action. Thousands of people were evacuated from the Jenin refugee camp as the Israeli operation continued for a second day on Tuesday, and Palestinian officials said at least 10 people had been killed. Israel says its army is destroying infrastructure and weapons of Iran-backed militant groups in the camp. The military operation is diplomatically awkward for the four Arab states that have signed peace pacts – known as the Abraham Accords – with Israel, and it makes the already distant prospect of […]]]> 649679 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230703-israel-links-western-sahara-decision-to-morocco-hosting-negev-forum/ Mon, 03 Jul 2023 13:36:29 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=649005 Israel linked, on Monday, its pending decision on recognising the Moroccan claim on Western Sahara to Morocco hosting a repeatedly postponed forum of foreign ministers involved in a US-sponsored regional normalisation drive, Reuters reports. Morocco upgraded ties with Israel in 2020, encouraged by then US President Donald Trump, who recognised Rabat's rule over Western Sahara, where the Algeria-backed Polisario Front demands an independent state. Trump's successor, President Joe Biden, has not followed through by opening a consulate there, however. Diplomatic sources have said that Morocco could establish full relations with Israel – with their current mid-level diplomatic missions repurposed as embassies – in exchange for Israeli recognition of Morocco's claim. READ: Israel, not Arafat, scuppered Clinton-led peace deal But Morocco, citing Israeli policies on the […]]]> 649005 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230701-key-figure-of-abraham-accords-reveals-purpose-behind-saudi-normalisation/ Sat, 01 Jul 2023 09:34:06 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=648720 Former Israeli National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat considers the normalisation of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia "an important goal, but not at any price," pointing out: "Israeli practises against the Palestinians do not determine Saudi Arabia's position on normalisation with Israel." Ben-Shabbat, who currently heads the Misgav: The Institute for Zionist Strategy and National Security, is one of the architects of the Abraham Accords that Israel signed with Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Morocco. Ben-Shabbat wrote in an article, a copy of which was sent to Anadolu Agency on 30 June: "The normalisation of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia is a clear American and Western interest, through which the US will be able to distance Saudi […]]]> 648720 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230630-iran-welcomes-restoration-of-ties-with-egypt-morocco/ Fri, 30 Jun 2023 12:53:14 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=648305 Iran's Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, on Thursday said the Islamic Republic welcomes the resumption and expansion of ties with Egypt and Morocco, Anadolu Agency reports. Speaking at an event in Tehran to mark Eid Al-Adha in the presence of foreign diplomats, Iran's top diplomat said the Ebrahim Raisi government prioritises relations with countries in the region and the Muslim world. "We welcome the expansion and normalisation of relations with other regional and Muslim countries, including Egypt and Morocco," said Amir-Abdollahian, referring to two countries that are yet to restore ties with Iran. The friction in Iran-Egypt ties can be traced back to 1979 when Egypt became the first Arab country to recognise Israel and signed the controversial Camp David Accords. […]]]> 648305 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230630-report-israel-escalations-in-west-bank-cast-shadow-on-ties-with-arab-world/ Fri, 30 Jun 2023 08:36:50 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=648267 Israeli escalations in the occupied West Bank have cast a shadow over the occupation state's relations with the Arab world, leading to a significant drop in the number of visits by senior Israeli officials to Arab countries, Haaretz newspaper reported. According to the paper, since taking office as prime minister about six months ago, Benjamin Netanyahu has only visited Jordan, compared to Naftali Bennett, who visited the UAE, Jordan and Egypt during the same period. Bennett's visit to the UAE was the first of its kind by an Israeli prime minister, while his visit to Egypt was the first in a decade, the paper said. At the beginning of his term, the incumbent Israeli Foreign Minister, Eli Cohen, visited Sudan for the first time, and has since […]]]> 648267 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230629-morocco-recalls-ambassador-to-sweden-over-quran-burning/ Thu, 29 Jun 2023 11:33:28 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=647987 Morocco recalled its ambassador to Sweden late Wednesday after a man tore up and burned a Quran outside Stockholm's central mosque, the country's state news agency reported. Morocco's Foreign Ministry also summoned Sweden's top diplomat in Rabat and conveyed the kingdom's condemnation of the incident and its rejection of the "unacceptable" act, Anadolu Agency reports. Earlier Wednesday, a person identified as Salwan Momika burned a copy of the Muslim holy book under police protection in front of Stockholm Mosque. The incident occurred on the first day of the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday. On June 12, a Swedish appeals court upheld a lower court's decision to overturn a ban on Quran burning, ruling that police had no legal grounds to prevent two […]]]> 647987 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230626-boat-capsizes-between-tunisia-and-italy-newborn-among-missing/ Mon, 26 Jun 2023 11:44:50 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=647280 A boat has capsized between Tunisia and Italy and 37 people including a newborn baby are missing, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). The survivors are from sub-Saharan Africa and arrived on the Italian island of Lampedusa last Thursday. The boat they were on left from Tunisia's second city of Sfax carrying refugees from Cameroon, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast. A spokesperson for the IOM said that the arrival of sub-Saharan Africans from Tunisia was because of discrimination that they faced in Tunisia. In February, Tunisian President Kais Saied announced that immigration was a plot to change the country's demography and that security forces should take "urgent measures" against "hordes" of undocumented sub-Saharan migrants. Armed mobs attacked homes where black […]]]> 647280 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230625-morocco-intercepts-over-25000-migration-attempts-in-2023/ Sun, 25 Jun 2023 12:05:14 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=647131 Morocco said it had thwarted more than 25,000 attempts by irregular migrants to cross the Mediterranean into Europe this year, Anadolu reports. "Moroccan authorities intercepted 25,519 irregular migration attempts and rescued 3,150 migrants in the first five months of 2023," the Interior Ministry said in a statement cited by state news agency MAP. According to the ministry, a total of 70,781 illegal migration attempts were foiled in 2022. "Around 12,478 migrants were rescued last year," it added. The ministry estimated that 366,000 attempts by irregular migrants were thwarted in the past five years, with 90,000 migrants rescued. The ministry added that 117 trafficking networks had been dismantled since the start of 2023, down from 290 networks in 2022. The Spanish […]]]> 647131 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230624-morocco-delays-abraham-accords-summit-until-after-summer/ Sat, 24 Jun 2023 16:24:37 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=647096 Morocco will delay a summit it is hosting between Israel and Arab states that have signed "Abraham Accords" peace pacts, its Foreign Minister said on Friday, amid rising strife in the West Bank, Reuters reports. The decision to postpone the summit until after the summer comes after Israel decided to expand settlement-building in the Occupied West Bank and after an Israeli raid on Jenin in which five people were killed. Moroccan Foreign Minister, Nasser Bourita, said the decision was partly over scheduling but also because of what he called "provocative and unilateral acts" that "undermine peace efforts in the region". He condemned the Israeli army raid on Jenin, in the West Bank, and rejected Israel's decision to expand settlements in occupied territory where Palestinians want to […]]]> 647096 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230623-morocco-portugal-discuss-security-cooperation/ Fri, 23 Jun 2023 13:01:21 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=646809 Morocco's intelligence chief, Abdellatif Hammouchi, held talks with security officials in Portugal on ways to develop and deepen bilateral cooperation in various security fields, especially combating terrorism and transnational organised crime, the Moroccan official news agency, MAP, reported. Hammouchi made an official two-day visit to Portugal on Wednesday and Thursday. He was accompanied by a Moroccan delegation of security officials. Talks focused on assessing the security situation at the regional and international levels, as well as the various security threats and risks on both sides of the Mediterranean as a result of escalating terrorist activity, a statement by Morocco's intelligence agency, the General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance, said. On 12 May, Morocco and Portugal signed 12 agreements in a number of strategic areas […]]]> 646809 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230622-no-justice-for-deaths-at-melilla-border-human-rights-watch/ Thu, 22 Jun 2023 16:07:02 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=646667 Human Rights Watch slammed Spain and Morocco on Thursday for failing to credibly investigate the Melilla border tragedy a year ago, claiming there has been "no justice" for the deaths, Anadolu Agency reports. "Both Spain and Morocco have exonerated their security forces following flawed or insufficient investigations into the violence at the Melilla enclave border," said Alice Autin, Europe and Central Asia researcher at the human rights organisation. "And what happened to dozens of the people who attempted to cross on that day is still unknown." On 24 June, 2022, around 1,700 men, mostly from Sudan, South Sudan and Chad, tried to scale the fortified border fence separating Morocco from Spain. That action was met by violence from Spanish and Moroccan […]]]> 646667 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230621-39-feared-dead-after-boat-sank-on-canary-islands-migrant-route/ Wed, 21 Jun 2023 18:26:43 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=646492 As many as 39 people are feared dead after a ship sank in the waters between Morocco and Spain's Canary Islands on Wednesday, according to the Spanish migrant organisation, Walking Borders, Anadolu Agency reports. The Spanish Coast Guard has confirmed one death, so far, according to Spanish news agency, EFE. The ship was carrying some 60 people. Moroccan authorities rescued 24 passengers, some of whom were already in the sea when the rescue team arrived, EFE reported. The migrant ship had been begging for help for 12 hours in Spanish waters, Helena Maleno Garzon, head of Walking Borders, said on Twitter. "Europe's border policy is what happened in Greece, Italy and Spain. It's torture and death," she wrote. READ: Save […]]]> 646492 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230621-morocco-pulls-out-of-hosting-negev-forum-over-israeli-settlement-plans/ Wed, 21 Jun 2023 08:22:37 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=646091 Morocco has pulled out of hosting the second Negev Forum scheduled for next month, the Times of Israel reported on Tuesday. The forum includes officials from Israel, the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, Egypt and the US. The newspaper reported US and Israeli officials as saying that the reason for cancelled the event is the Israeli government's recent decision to expand illegal Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. The Forum brings together the foreign ministers from the Palestinian Authority as well as the US and the Arab states which have ties or peace treaties with Israel. Its main function is to mobilise collective security efforts in favour of the apartheid state. The second gathering should have been held in March, but […]]]> 646091 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230620-saudi-pro-football-league-demonstrates-pulling-power-with-more-foreign-signings/ Tue, 20 Jun 2023 13:48:38 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=645999 Three Chelsea FC footballers are expected to be the latest players from the English Premier League to agree to a lucrative move to football clubs in Saudi Arabia. Al-Nassr is close to an agreement to sign Moroccan winger Hakim Ziyech, with personal terms not expected to be a problem, and Al-Ahli is in advanced talks over the signing of Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, whose contract with Chelsea expires in 2025. The Jeddah-based club has also entered talks to sign defender Kalidou Koulibaly, who is also from Senegal. Chelsea FC is also set to lose N'Golo Kante on a free transfer to Al-Ittihad. The London club is desperate to offload players after spending close to £600 million ($764m) since last summer. […]]]> 645999 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230619-saudi-arabia-al-nassr-fc-prepares-tempting-offer-for-moroccan-star-ziyech/ Mon, 19 Jun 2023 09:55:23 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=645495 Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr Football Club is reported to be trying to sign Moroccan star Hakim Ziyech, who plays for Chelsea FC in the English Premier League. Although Ziyech, 30, has a contract with Chelsea until 2025, the Moroccan international wants to leave. The relationship between the player and the club is said to be poor. According to sports journalist Ben Jacobs, a correspondent for CBS Sports Golazo, Al-Nassr is preparing an attractive offer to sign Ziyech. Jacobs tweeted that Ziyech is interested in moving to Al-Nassr and that talks between the two parties will take place in London. He added that an annual salary of €30 million is being offered plus bonuses and other financial incentives for the Moroccan star […]]]> 645495 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230617-morocco-israel-sign-mou-to-enhance-health-cooperation/ Sat, 17 Jun 2023 15:06:42 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=645304 Morocco and Israel have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance their cooperation in the field of health, Anadolu reports. The deal was signed between Moroccan Health Minister Khalid Ait Taleb and his Israeli counterpart Moshe Arbel, who is currently visiting the North African nation. In a statement, the Moroccan Health Ministry said the agreement allows for the exchange of expertise and best practices in medical and technological innovation, and the fight against non-communicable diseases. READ: Morocco asks to postpone Negev-2 Forum, again According to the statement, the two ministers discussed bilateral efforts in managing public health issues and enhancing innovation in the health field. Ties between Morocco and Israel have improved in recent months after the two countries signed […]]]> 645304 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230616-morocco-asks-to-postpone-negev-2-forum-again/ Fri, 16 Jun 2023 14:37:14 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=645227 Morocco has asked to postpone the ministerial meeting of the Negev Forum, scheduled at the end of this month, to July due to Eid Al-Adha, Axios news site reported. According to the site, this is the fourth time the Forum has been postponed. The meeting was originally scheduled for March, but Arab members have expressed concerns about publicly engaging with the Israeli right-wing government, Axios said. The site added the US administration and several member states also wish to change the Forum's name, which refers to Israel's Negev region. A Moroccan academic specialised in international relations, Hassan Ikrtet, said the postponement is linked to regional developments and the Forum's upcoming agenda, as well as the decisions that should emerge from […]]]> 645227 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230616-tunisians-at-the-forefront-of-migrants-deported-from-italy-in-2022/ Fri, 16 Jun 2023 07:29:55 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=645040 An official source in Italy has said that authorities have deported over 2,300 Tunisian migrants who entered the country illegally, placing Tunisians at the forefront of migrants from the country in 2022. Italy's Nova news agency quoting Italian Ombudsman for the Rights of Detained Persons, Mauro Palma, saying that authorities have deported 3,154 foreigners of the 6,383 in deportation centres in 2022. He clarified that the majority of those deported were Tunisians, at 2,308 individuals, compared to 58 who were deported to Albania, 359 to Egypt, and 189 to Morocco. Italy is seeking to reach an agreement with Tunisia to expedite deportations and increase efforts to prevent migrants from departing via its coasts. Human rights organisations in Tunisia criticise the forced deportation of […]]]> 645040 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230614-us-lawmakers-vote-to-appoint-envoy-to-advance-abraham-accords/ Wed, 14 Jun 2023 15:20:11 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=644688 The US House of Representatives passed a bill yesterday that mandates the Biden Administration to appoint an envoy for the Abraham Accords to help advance Israel's normalisation with Arab States, particularly with Saudi Arabia. The bill, which was first introduced in February, would create a Special Envoy for the Abraham Accords with the rank of ambassador who would be appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. According to the bill, which passed with 413 votes in favour and 13 against, the new envoy "would serve as the primary advisor to, and coordinate efforts across, the US Government relating to expanding and strengthening the Abraham Accords." That envoy would "engage in discussions with nation-state officials lacking official diplomatic relations […]]]> 644688 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230614-spanish-waste-is-being-smuggled-in-morocco-govt-must-act-mp-says/ Wed, 14 Jun 2023 08:18:15 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=644594 A member of the Moroccan parliament has questioned what measures the government has put in place to protect the kingdom from being a site to dump foreign rubbish. This comes after media outlets published details of an investigation carried out by the Spanish authorities into the smuggling of tonnes of plastic waste into Morocco and other countries in Africa. In response, Member of Parliament Ahmed Al-Abbadi, a member of the Progress and Socialism Bloc, asked Morocco's Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, about Rabat's moves to stop such practices, adding that some of the practices go beyond minor environmental violations and evolve into organised crimes. Al-Abbadi added that Morocco had made significant strides in environmental protection, the […]]]> 644594 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230613-israel-reports-record-12-5bn-defence-exports-24-of-them-to-arab-partners/ Tue, 13 Jun 2023 13:51:54 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=644429 Israel exported a record $12.556 billion in defence products last year, with new Arab partners under the US-sponsored 2020 Abraham Accords accounting for almost a quarter of the business, the Defence Ministry said on Tuesday. It said the 2022 figures marked a 50 per cent increase over the previous three years and a doubling in volume over the previous decade. Drones accounted for 25 per cent of the 2022 exports and missiles, rockets or air defence systems for 19 per cent, it said, Reuters reports. Without naming specific clients, the Ministry said 24 per cent of defence exports were to Abraham Accords countries. United Arab Emirates and Bahrain were signatories to those Accords, and Israel often counts Morocco and Sudan […]]]> 644429