Morocco protests oppose planned expansion of Israel ties
Demonstrations in several cities called for an end to normalisation as Rabat pursued plans for embassies and broader economic links with Israel.
Pro-Palestine demonstrations in several Moroccan cities on 27 September called for an end to diplomatic normalisation with Israel, days after the two governments announced plans to upgrade their missions to embassies and exchange ambassadors.
The protests followed three days of action called by the Moroccan Front for Supporting Palestine and Against Normalisation. The Moroccan Committee for Supporting the Nation’s Causes said it had held 76 events in 45 cities on 25 September. That is the organisers’ count; the source reports no independent national tally of participants.
Local media reported restrictions on gatherings in several cities. Achkayen said security forces dispersed participants in Tangier and detained more than 12 people, citing its own sources. Authorities also reportedly prevented demonstrations in M’diq and surrounded a gathering in Agadir. These accounts have not been independently confirmed in the supplied reporting.
Morocco and Israel announced the diplomatic upgrade on 16 September after a meeting between their foreign ministers, hosted by the United States. They also agreed to pursue investment protection and tax agreements, expand direct flights and arrange reciprocal high-level visits. The announcement sets out planned measures; it does not establish that embassies have opened or ambassadors have been appointed.
Morocco restored diplomatic relations with Israel in December 2020 under the US-brokered Abraham Accords framework. The government has maintained those ties while publicly supporting the Palestinian cause and a Palestinian state. The latest protests show organised opposition continuing alongside the government’s effort to expand official relations; the demonstrations alone do not establish wider public opinion or indicate whether policy will change.
