Morocco stresses the centrality of the Palestinian cause and its firm and constant position towards it

Last updated Mar 17, 2023

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Living Abroad, Nasser Bourita, stressed, Thursday in Nouakchott, the centrality of the righteous Palestinian cause and the firm and constant position of the Kingdom in its regard.

“The Kingdom, given the developments prevailing in the Palestinian territories, reaffirms the centrality of the Palestinian cause and its firm and constant position towards it,” he said during the work of the 49th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), held on March 16 and 17 under the theme “the middle way and moderation: a guarantee of security and stability”.

He added that for the Kingdom of Morocco, whose King Mohammed VI chairs the Al Quds Committee, which is part of the OIC, the Palestinian issue is one of the priorities of its foreign policy.

According to him, the Palestinian issue is also the pillar of Morocco’s political and diplomatic action and humanitarian initiatives, carried out under the enlightened leadership of the Sovereign to assert the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, defend the city of Al Quds and preserve its spiritual character, its legal status and its historical and civilizational character, as well as to work to improve the living conditions of its people through the Bayt Mal Al Quds Acharif Agency, the financial and field arm of the Al Quds Committee.

Bourita said that Morocco, in light of developments in the Palestinian territories, considers the Palestinian issue “a real challenge facing the common Islamic action, which requires the combination of efforts to revive the peace process in the Middle East to reach a fair and comprehensive settlement.

The minister said that this will only be possible by adopting a realistic vision and a pragmatic perception, within the framework of a collective effort and a unified discourse, which distances itself from sterile overbidding and odious political instrumentalization which would harm the Palestinian cause instead of serving it.

Mr. Bourita said that the Kingdom has always chosen the path of moderation and the middle way and has made it a guiding light for its orientations.

In this sense, he recalled that Morocco has put in place since 2003 a comprehensive and multidimensional strategy that has proved effective against terrorism and extremism.

He explained that Morocco has made its experience available to brotherly and friendly countries, especially in Africa, by mobilizing for this purpose two important institutions that contribute to strengthening spiritual security and the fight against extremist ideology in Africa, These are the Mohammed VI Foundation for African Ulemas, which is present in more than 32 African countries, and the Mohammed VI Institute for the Training of Imams, Mourchidin, and Mourchidat, which has opened its doors to the brothers of Africa, in general, and the Sahel countries, in particular.

He reiterated Morocco’s call to the Islamic countries for increased cooperation to eradicate terrorism and block the way to extremist groups that seek to distort the image of Islam and present it as a religion of extremism, which fuels hatred and racism against Muslims around the world and encourages extremist intellectual and political tendencies to offend the sacred symbols of the Islamic religion.

After recalling the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the economies of the OIC Member States, which are still struggling to recover, and the successive crises in the world that have exacerbated security, food, and energy problems, he called for more solidarity and synergy to formulate a unified and responsible position that provides ideas and practical and effective solutions to these crises.

The Minister stressed that these daunting challenges require redoubling efforts to strengthen joint Islamic action to meet the developmental and social challenges faced by Member States.

“The Kingdom stresses the importance of pursuing the reform dynamic within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, according to a participatory vision, based on consensus and a long-term vision, far from the logic of tensions and rivalries that would affect our cohesion and union,” he said.

He reiterated Morocco’s full willingness to adhere to all initiatives capable of developing joint Islamic action and responding to the legitimate aspirations of people for security and stability.

He also reiterated the Kingdom’s support for all initiatives and good offices aimed at advancing the peace process in several Islamic countries that are still experiencing wars and conflicts, the optimal objective, according to him, is to adhere to its principles consisting in preserving the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Islamic countries, non-interference in their internal affairs and the resolution of disputes and conflicts by peaceful and diplomatic means.