Morocco: pro-Palestine groups protest citizenship law that could benefit Israeli soldiers

Morocco's parliament is set to debate a controversial decree that would grant citizenship to descendants of Moroccan Jews, most of whom immigrated to Israel in the last century. Anti-normalisation groups warn the move could pave the way for Israeli soldiers to gain access to Moroccan citizenship.

On 11 October, the Ministry in charge of parliament received a legislative petition calling for Moroccan citizenship to be extended to all descendants of Moroccan Jews.

Submitted by unidentified petitioners, the proposal seeks to ensure the children and grandchildren of Moroccan Jews enjoy "full constitutional, economic, and social rights," with a focus on their integration into Moroccan society.

The petitioners also call on Morocco to allow Jews to reclaim properties lost when their families emigrated and to work with their new countries of residence to "protect them."

The petition was first introduced last June, during a visit by Amir Ohana, the speaker of Israel's Knesset, to Rabat.

Now, over a year later, the proposal has appeared on Morocco's "National Portal for Citizen Participation"—a platform that allows citizens to participate in shaping the country's laws, a right granted by Article 14 of Morocco's 2011 Constitution.

To formally submit the petition to the House of Representatives, it must gather 20,000 signatures. So far, fewer than 300 people have signed. If it reaches the threshold, the House will have 15 days to decide whether to accept or reject it.

For pro-Palestine groups, the petition represents a "Zionist attempt" to enter Morocco's institutions and circumvent security.

"This law would grant Moroccan citizenship to Israelis involved in crimes in Gaza and Lebanon", argues Aziz Hennaoui, a member of the Moroccan Observatory for Anti-Normalisation. He warned that the proposal has wider implications for the country's security.

In January, the Moroccan government declined to receive a petition, endorsed by over 10,000 signatures, urging the reversal of normalisation with Israel, citing "wrong" bureaucratic procedure. 

A Jewish exodus

In 1948, Morocco had the largest Jewish community in the region, with 260,000 Jews. 

Between 1949 and 1967, 200,000 Moroccan Jews left Morocco following the establishment of Israel, seeking economic opportunities and safety amid the rise of anti-Jewish sentiment within the Moroccan nationalist movement.

Another 50,000 followed in the 1970s and '80s. Today, roughly 90% of the Jewish diaspora of Moroccan origin lives in Israel, with the remaining 10% spread across France, Spain, the US, Canada, and Latin America.

When they immigrated, many renounced their Moroccan citizenship to ease integration into Israeli society, especially since Morocco was still officially opposed to ties with Israel at the time. However, since the two countries normalised relations in 2020, the possibility of reclaiming Moroccan citizenship has resurfaced.

Today, an estimated one million Jews of Moroccan origin live in Israel, though it's unclear how many still hold Moroccan citizenship.

Amid Israel's war on Gaza, videos of Israeli soldiers of Moroccan descent singing traditional songs and speaking the Moroccan dialect have gone viral on social media, sparking renewed controversy.

Some Israelis of Moroccan descent, such as Shimon Ohayon, president of the organisation for Israelis of Moroccan origin, have called on Morocco to stand with Israel.

Last November, Ohayon wrote an open letter to King Mohammed VI, urging him not to turn his back on Israel and to support its so-called "right to defend itself" against what he called "terrorist organisations."

Where does the Jewish community in Morocco stand?

In Morocco, the Jewish community, now numbering around 2,000, largely remained apolitical regarding Israel's atrocities in the past.

Today—while they support normalisation—community leaders have condemned the war on Gaza, calling for a ceasefire and peaceful solutions.

"Killing civilians, women, and children has nothing to do with our religion", said Jackie Kadouch, head of the Jewish community in Marrakech. Rabbi Kadouch has also criticised the recent citizenship petition, calling it "sectarian" and warning against "legislative discrimination based on religion."

Although most Moroccan Jews prefer to stay out of politics, some have taken a strong stance against Israel and Zionism.

One prominent Moroccan-Jewish figure is Sion Assidon, the leader of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement in Morocco. Assidon, a veteran human rights activist, has long been at the forefront of anti-normalisation efforts, even before Morocco formally established ties with Israel.