The Algerian President, Abdelmajid Tebboune, has condemned the historic “peace” agreement signed by the UAE and Bahrain with “Israel” at the White House last week. US President Donald Trump has played a crucial role in ensuring the UAE and Bahrain normalise processes with “Israel”, apparently in exchange for political and military security to the Gulf countries.[1]
In an interview with the Algerian media, President Tebboune announced that Algeria will never be a part of an agreement to normalise any kind of relation with “Israel”. Tebboune added that Algeria will not give its blessing to any Arab country that has made “a kind of rush towards normalisation.”[2]
Arab states have boycotted “Israel” for decades, stating that they will establish ties only once the Palestinian conflict is resolved. However, not all of them have stuck to this stance. President Tebboune explained that “the Palestinian issue is sacred for us and it is the mother of all issues and will not be resolved except by establishing a Palestinian state, with the 1967 borders, with Holy Jerusalem as its capital.”[3]
This comes after the Israeli government continues to enforce discriminatory and severe restrictions on the human rights of Palestinians. After Israel’s twelve-year closure of Gaza, there is limited access to education, economic opportunities, medical care, clean water, and electricity for nearly 2 million Palestinians who live in the Gaza strip.[4] There is currently still a restriction on movement of both people and goods in Gaza.
President Tebboune’s announcement that Algeria will never be part of normal relations with “Israel” follows the decision of Qatar, whose Foreign Affairs Ministry (FAM) commented in support of Palestine.[5]
The Qatar News Agency quoted the statement of the Qatari FAM:
“The state of Qatar affirmed its firm position on the Palestinian issue, which stipulates ending the Israeli occupation and establishing the State of Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital within the framework of international legitimacy and relevant Security Council resolutions while granting all Palestinian refugees the right to return.”
The statement also expressed Qatar’s support in sparing no effort to provide relief and lessen the suffering of Palestinians.[6]
Alongside Algeria and Qatar, Moroccans are protesting any form of deal with Israel as ‘treason’. Since the coronavirus pandemic hit Morocco, its government has placed bans on large gatherings. However, this has not stopped the people of Morocco from demonstrating outside the Moroccan Parliament to denounce the Arab countries who are normalising relations with “Israel”. Protestors in the capital city Rabat waved Palestinian flags whilst chanting “Palestine is not for sale”. Many protestors burned a mock Israeli flag as police officers watched from a distance. It is clear to say that convincing Morocco to normalise ties with “Israel” will not be an easy task.[7]
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Source: www.islam21c.com
Notes:
[1] https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/convincing-morocco-to-normalise-ties-with-israel-won-t-be-easy-39746
[2] https://www.trtworld.com/middle-east/algeria-and-qatar-join-growing-opposition-against-arab-israel-deals-39921
[3] https://www.trtworld.com/middle-east/algeria-and-qatar-join-growing-opposition-against-arab-israel-deals-39921
[4] https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2020/country-chapters/israel/palestine
[5] https://www.trtworld.com/middle-east/algeria-and-qatar-join-growing-opposition-against-arab-israel-deals-39921
[6] https://www.trtworld.com/middle-east/algeria-and-qatar-join-growing-opposition-against-arab-israel-deals-39921
[7] https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/convincing-morocco-to-normalise-ties-with-israel-won-t-be-easy-39746
