The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) was launched in Morocco after the 1969 arson attack on Al-Aqsa, establishing principles aimed at safeguarding the dignity of Muslims. In 1975, Al-Quds Committee was created to protect Jerusalem, with its leadership entrusted to King Hassan II. Following his death, this responsibility fell to his son, King Mohammed VI. Ironically, under his reign, Morocco has taken steps to normalize relations with the very entity that threatens the sanctity of Al-Aqsa and seeks to Judaize Jerusalem.
The normalization of relations between Morocco and the Zionist entity not only undermines the goals of Al-Quds Committee but also marks a stark betrayal of the legacy that Morocco once represented in the Muslim world. The recent increase in trade volume between Morocco and the Zionist entity—up by 124% in June 2024 compared to the previous year—illustrates how economic interests have overshadowed Morocco’s commitment to the Palestinian cause. This alarming trend reveals a willingness to engage with an entity that is actively working to erase the Palestinian identity from Jerusalem.
While the historical roots of Morocco’s relations with the Zionist entity trace back to Hassan II, who had covert ties with Zionists, King Mohammed VI’s public normalization signifies a departure from the original mission of the Al-Quds Committee. Instead of serving as a protector of Palestinian rights, the king has aligned himself with an occupier, thus straying far from the committee’s purpose of resisting Zionist efforts in Jerusalem. The contradiction between Morocco’s proclaimed dedication to defending Al-Quds and its actual policies towards the Zionist entity is glaring and raises serious questions about Mohammed VI’s credibility.
In his recent speech to the Moroccan parliament, the king chose to ignore the critical issues affecting his people, such as rampant government corruption and the urgent situation in Gaza. Instead, he focused on matters like Western Sahara, all while the Zionist entity continues its campaign of aggression and genocide against Palestinians. With daily settler incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque and the harassment of its Imam, there is a general feeling that Mohammed VI remains silent on these pressing issues while reinforcing ties with the Zionist entity.
If Al-Quds Committee was founded to protect Jerusalem from the very threats posed by the Zionist entity, what justification remains for Mohammed VI to lead it? His normalization of relations with the Zionist entity raises profound questions about the integrity and purpose of this role. Analysts believe that the need has become urgent in the current Morocco’s leadership in Al-Quds Committee and to demand accountability for actions that betray the Palestinian cause. Mohammed VI’s actions have not only jeopardized Morocco’s historic commitment to Al-Quds but also disillusioned those who once looked to the kingdom as a bastion of support for the Palestinian people.
