Political Tensions Rise After Jewish Prayers in Morocco
A significant political discourse has emerged in Morocco following an incident where a group of Jewish tourists engaged in public prayers outside a well-known historical site. This event, which took place last week at Bab Doukkala—the main northwestern entrance to Marrakesh—has been described by a prominent Moroccan political figure as a "provocation". The viral video that captured the scene depicted dozens of ultra-Orthodox Jews, dressed in traditional black coats, praying in a manner typical to their customs in front of the ancient wall, which bears no historical significance to the Jewish community.
According to Jackie Kadouch, a representative of the local Jewish population, the group was fulfilling a religious obligation, as Jewish law stipulates that prayers must be performed within specific timeframes each day. This context is crucial in understanding the motivations behind their actions. However, the response from the local Moroccan community was swift and intense. The day following the prayers, a large group of protesters assembled at the site, some of whom displayed Palestinian flags and voiced anti-Israel sentiments. Fortunately, the demonstration concluded without any reported clashes, as noted by local media outlets.
In the wake of these events, Abdelilah Benkirane, the former prime minister and current secretary-general of Morocco's Justice and Development Party, publicly condemned the prayers as an affront to Moroccan sentiments. In a video statement, he articulated that while the act of praying itself is not the core issue, the manner in which it was conducted is what he termed a "provocation". He drew parallels between this incident and the sensitive nature of prayers at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, adjacent to the Temple Mount, emphasizing that such displays should not have been permitted in public spaces. Benkirane suggested that if the group wished to pray, they should do so within their designated places of worship, thereby respecting the cultural and religious sensitivities of the Moroccan populace.
As reported by timesofisrael.com.
