Former Moroccan Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane publicly challenged Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, accusing him of pursuing a diplomatic course that could undermine Palestinian rights. The rebuke, delivered in a video statement posted on social media Wednesday evening, followed Bourita’s participation in the inaugural meeting of the Peace Council, chaired by former U.S. President Donald Trump, on February 19.
Benkirane, who served as Morocco’s head of government from 2011 to 2017, framed his criticism as a direct address to Bourita, asserting that the foreign minister’s statements at the Peace Council meeting compromised the Kingdom’s image and stated position. He specifically took issue with Bourita’s advocacy for a program aimed at combating hate speech and promoting tolerance, suggesting it could be interpreted as a call for Palestinians to abandon their opposition to Israel.
“What I understood from these words, and what people will understand, is that you are going to strive to convince the Palestinians to stop considering Zionists as enemies,” Benkirane stated in the video. He questioned the basis for such an effort, arguing that any discussion of coexistence must first address the restitution of Palestinian rights. “On what basis is this based?” he asked.
Benkirane acknowledged the strategic choices made by the Moroccan state, particularly those decided at the highest levels of government, but emphasized that foreign policy is the prerogative of the King. He likewise asserted that the Moroccan public and political parties have a right to express their views. He warned that Bourita’s statements carried significant weight, given King Mohammed VI’s role as Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, a body dedicated to preserving Islamic heritage in Jerusalem.
The former prime minister argued that Morocco’s priority should be advocating for a political solution that guarantees the rights of Palestinians. He predicted that any initiative perceived as attempting to alter the Palestinian narrative would be unsuccessful. “This approach will not succeed,” he said.
Benkirane’s criticism comes amid a broader debate within Morocco regarding its evolving relationship with Israel. Diplomatic relations were normalized in 2020 as part of the Abraham Accords brokered by the Trump administration, a move that King Mohammed VI defended as being in Morocco’s best interests. However, the resumption of ties has faced opposition from Islamist groups, including the Party of Justice and Development (PJD), which Benkirane formerly led. In March 2023, King Mohammed VI publicly rebuked the PJD for what he described as “irresponsible excesses and dangerous approximations” regarding Moroccan-Israeli relations, according to Modern Diplomacy.
Benkirane concluded his statement by calling on Bourita to exercise caution in future declarations, asserting that some of his recent remarks had been poorly received. “This discourse is unacceptable,” he stated, while reaffirming his commitment to national unity and the preservation of Morocco’s interests.
