Morocco-Israel: a year after normalization, the hopes of Israeli Jews of Moroccan origin
Audio 02:30
A year ago, former US President Donald Trump announced the resumption of diplomatic relations between Morocco and Israel.
via REUTERS - US EMBASSY IN MOROCCO
By: Sami Boukhelifa Follow
2 min
Exactly one year ago, it was via a simple tweet that former US President Donald Trump announced the resumption of diplomatic relations between Morocco and Israel.
A few days later, the Shereefian kingdom and the Hebrew state officially record their reconciliation within the framework of the Abrahamic accords, these peace accords between Israel and certain Arab countries, under the aegis of Washington.
A year later, this rapprochement is still the joy of Jewish Israelis from Morocco.
Report near Tel Aviv, by Sami Boukhelifa.
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At the beginning of December, the association of the Jews of Marrakech in Israel is celebrating its fortieth anniversary and the feast of Hanukkah. A double event which rejoices the president of this association, David Ouaknin Kenan: “
Hanukkah is an extraordinary holiday for the Jewish people. It's the feast of light, it's the feast of the miracle.
"
83 years old, David Ouaknin Kenan made Aliyah, his immigration to Israel in 1955. Since then he has worked tirelessly to bring Morocco and the Jewish state, the two countries: "
For a year, this is a love that has been revealed on both sides. In every point of view. In the economic, cultural, tourist sectors, in exchanges, in friendship. What is happening now is very important. Currently, there are thousands of Israelis who are in Morocco.
"
This welcome is reserved for Abderrahim Bayoud, head of the Moroccan liaison office in Israel.
He is the guest of honor for the evening.
Very discreet, he politely refuses to speak.
This diplomat does not have the status of ambassador.
The president of the Association of Jews of Marrakech, David Ouaknin Kenan, impatiently awaits the opening of a Moroccan embassy in Israel: “
Currently in Morocco, our Israeli representative already has the title of ambassador.
Inch'allah, it will come here too.
We are doing what is necessary to change the status of the representative of Morocco.
"
Mohamed VI wants to promote the two-state solution
King Mohamed VI says he wants to promote negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, as part of the two-state solution. But Yaakov Peretz, a former soldier, member of the Association of Jews in Marrakech, does not quite share this vision: “
Our king of Morocco is trying to make peace between us and the Arab countries. But from my personal perspective, being a Palestinian is an identity, not a country. Today, I tell you sincerely, as a colonel of the Israeli army, as a Moroccan, as an Israeli, I do not see how we can have two countries, in this small country called Israel.
"
According to Yaakov Peretz, if peace is possible between Israel and Morocco, it is also possible with the Palestinians.
But he pleads for their integration into a single Jewish state.
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