In a filmed address during the ninth national conference of Morocco’s Justice and Development Party, Mustafa Barghouti, head of the Palestinian National Initiative, delivered a message that stirred significant controversy as it crossed the boundaries of solidarity with the Palestinian cause into direct intervention in Morocco’s foreign policy decisions.
Barghouti, a prominent Palestinian figure supporting resistance against Israeli occupation, explicitly called for Morocco to cancel all forms of normalization with Israel. He pointed out that the occupation uses normalization as a means to undermine and bury the Palestinian cause, disregarding the unique Moroccan sovereign decision-making process that balances support for the Palestinian cause with its strategic interests.
While expressing his appreciation for the Moroccan popular marches in support of Palestine, which lasted nearly 19 months, Barghouti shifted to direct political demands, speaking about the need to cancel normalization, as if Morocco’s international relations were subject to external considerations or party pressures. This approach overshadowed the nature of the meeting, turning a solidarity occasion into a platform for political accountability.
The Palestinian leader highlighted what he described as the largest process of Judaization facing Al-Aqsa Mosque, recounting the tragedy of Gaza due to the recent war and noting that the sector was bombarded with over 120,000 tons of explosives. He also addressed the plight of Palestinian prisoners in occupation jails, praising what he termed the steadfastness of Gaza despite the ongoing siege and bombardment.
Despite the importance of the issues raised, Barghouti’s choice to link the suffering of Palestinians with Morocco’s stance on normalization raised profound questions about the limits of solidarity and the ethics of political discourse toward supporting countries. Morocco, which consistently emphasizes its support for a two-state solution and the rights of the Palestinian people, remains committed to its principled positions in international forums despite its diplomatic agreements with Israel—an aspect Barghouti notably overlooked.
Barghouti’s speech, which carried a tone of imposition, drew criticism among Moroccan circles that viewed it as an infringement on national sovereignty and unwarranted incitement regarding political choices that do not negate Morocco’s historical commitment to supporting Palestinian rights. Many questioned whether some Palestinian faction leaders understood that conflating solidarity with intervention in domestic affairs could lead to counterproductive results, diminishing public sympathy and not serving the Palestinian cause.
Barghouti’s participation through the Justice and Development Party, which is experiencing a political decline domestically after losing its leadership position in the Moroccan landscape, also sparked a discussion about the use of major national issues, such as the Palestinian cause, as a means to regain lost political capital.
