King Mohammed VI of Morocco, the Western Sahara, and the Zionist Equation!
BY: Hana Saada
ALGIERS- In a speech on November 6, King Mohammed VI of Morocco unveiled his controversial approach to foreign policy, celebrating the “Green March” and the anniversary of the colonization of Western Sahara. However, what struck observers most in his address was his deafening silence on the ongoing war in Gaza and the immeasurable suffering of the Palestinian people. This puzzling omission has cast a harsh light on the contrast between the positions of Algeria and Morocco regarding the Palestinian question.
Two Voices, Two Worlds
On November 6, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune delivered a powerful speech at the opening of the judicial year in Algiers. In his address, he called on the “free people of the world” and Arab jurists to take “effective” legal actions against the Zionist entity at the International Criminal Court, reaffirming Algeria’s unwavering support for the Palestinian people.
In stark contrast, in his speech in Rabat, King Mohammed VI chose to completely ignore the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Zionist military bombardments have already claimed the lives of over 10,000 Palestinians and injured nearly 25,000 more in just one month.
The “Green March” – Celebration and Concealment
King Mohammed VI’s speech was entirely devoted to the “Green March,” an event that marked the occupation of Western Sahara by King Hassan II’s forces in 1975 following Spain’s withdrawal.
The king emphasized the strategic importance of this Atlantic region, stating that it provided Morocco with “full access to Africa and a window to the American space.” He also outlined his ambitious plans to make Western Sahara “a center of continental and international influence” and a “geopolitical space” with African significance.
Nevertheless, the king’s silence on the Gaza situation, despite growing indignation among the Moroccan population, drew sharp criticism. It is public knowledge that the issue of Western Sahara is often used by the royal palace as a diversionary tactic, especially when popular unrest intensifies. This preference for omission over action concerning Gaza reveals a foreign policy marked by pragmatic and opportunistic considerations.
The Zionist Equation
The royal speech also underscored the importance of several countries recognizing the alleged “Moroccan sovereignty” over Western Sahara, especially the United States and the Zionist entity. This recognition resulted from the normalization agreement between Morocco and the Zionist entity, brokered in 2020 under the former U.S. President Donald Trump’s leadership.
This strategic decision had been justified by Moroccan authorities as a means to prioritize national interests, even at the expense of the Palestinian cause to which the Moroccan people remain deeply attached.
However, relations between Morocco and the Zionist entity have recently been strained. In July, Zionist Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted a photo that separated the Sahara from Moroccan territory, causing shockwaves in Rabat.
