King chairs Al-Quds Committee while upgrading ties with Israel

Moroccan opponents of normalization with Israel wrapped up three days of protests against the kingdom's decision to upgrade relations to full embassies, even as Rabat moved forward with plans to exchange ambassadors and deepen economic ties.

The demonstrations followed a September 16 announcement in New York by Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz that the two countries would elevate their liaison offices to embassies and appoint ambassadors. They also agreed to conclude investment-protection and double-taxation agreements by the end of the year.

In Rabat, demonstrators gathered outside Parliament chanting, "The people want the fall of normalization," according to Moroccan media. Protesters in Marrakech shouted, "No ambassador, no embassy."

A balancing act rooted in royal tradition

The upgrade builds on the 2020 agreement under which Morocco restored formal relations with Israel and US President Donald Trump, during his first term, recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. Morocco also hosts African Lion, the largest US military exercise in Africa.

At the same time, Rabat has maintained a public commitment to the Palestinian cause. Speaking at the United Nations last week, Bourita defended the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, criticized Israeli annexation proposals in the West Bank and condemned settler violence. 

Morocco has also pledged to deploy a military field hospital to Gaza. King Mohammed VI chairs the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's Al-Quds Committee, which focuses on Jerusalem and Palestinian issues.

This dual approach is a long-standing feature of Moroccan diplomacy. The king has consistently sought to balance support for the Palestinians with dialogue with Israel, a line his father, Hassan II, also followed.

The current head of the Israeli mission in Rabat, Yossi Ben-David, a Likud member and former mayor of Tiberias, was appointed in 2024. Israel has not yet named the ambassador who would lead the upgraded embassy, and with Israeli elections scheduled for October 27, the appointment could fall to the next government.