"Doha Before Gaza" – Will the "Dullards" of the Justice and Development Party Awaken?
What happened in Qatar was not just a fleeting political scene, but a moment of total exposure of chronic hypocrisy and a collective ignorance that has lasted for years. Some Moroccans, especially those belonging to the Justice and Development Party and the Justice and Spirituality Movement, suddenly found themselves confronted with a truth they had long refused to see: No one—neither Qatar under Tamim, nor Turkey under Erdoğan—supports Gaza out of love for Palestine. All these countries seek their interests first, and the rest are mere slogans to pacify naive populations.
Qatar, long promoted through Al Jazeera as the "beating heart of Arabism" and a "fierce defender of Gaza," signed a check worth billions of dollars for the American base at Al Udeid in Qatar yesterday. This base is not just a barracks; it is the first line of defense for Israel and a primary logistical hub for American weapons to Tel Aviv.
The scandal doesn’t stop at the financial aspect. Al Jazeera, Qatar’s media arm, suddenly became a machine for promoting a new narrative. It described Palestinian factions in Syria as "terrorist organizations" and completely ignored the remarks of Syria’s interim president, who called for normal relations with Israel and neighboring countries after the lifting of American sanctions. Al Jazeera, which never hesitates to label any Moroccan rapprochement with Israel as "betrayal," chose silence when it came to its allies and their interests.
The question here is: Where have the pawns of the Justice and Development Party gone who used to sing praises of Qatar? Why do we not hear their voices today? Were they swallowed by shock? Or is political realism only palatable when Morocco is the one normalizing relations and negotiating? Were they not the first to question Morocco’s stance on the Palestinian cause and accuse the state of betraying "foundational principles"?
The bitter truth that these forget is that countries are not governed by emotions. "Taza before Gaza" is not a superficial Moroccan saying, but a strategic principle. Morocco, like any self-respecting country, prioritizes its interests above all else. Those who do not do so will become extinct. Morocco does not need lessons from merchants of the cause, nor applause from the horns of Al Jazeera, nor the approval of the Islamist movements.
Morocco does not dispute the justice of the Palestinian cause, but we reject its exploitation. We refuse for our support to be used as a tool to whip our nation while others buy and sell it in hotel rooms and political offices.
To those who see themselves as "more Qatari than Qatar" and "more Palestinian than Palestine," reconsider yourselves. You are merely tools that were used and thrown away. Morocco has chosen to be a sovereign state that strives to develop its homeland, enhance its security, and improve its capacities.
Yes, Morocco stands with Palestine. His Majesty King Mohammed VI chairs the Al Quds Committee, providing millions in support, building hospitals, funding schools, and offering aid for decades. Yes, we are with Palestine, but within the framework of our own interests.
And as the national journalist Najiba Jalal often says, "When it comes to Morocco’s interest, we are all soldiers ready to defend it; for the homeland and for it, there are no compromises." As for those blinded followers of the Justice and Development Party, I refer you to the latest episode of the "Sofa Talk" program by Professor Najiba Jalal, so you can understand and grasp the reality of the Justice and Development Party.
