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Without uttering the name «Israel», Saadeddine El Othmani addressed on Wednesday the Joint Declaration signed by Morocco, the United States and the Hebrew state during a Justice and Development Party online meeting.
When it comes to «major sovereignty issues», the members of his party «will remain loyal» to King Mohammed VI, «the guarantor of national unity and social cohesion» and «the one mobilized to defend the supreme interests of the country», he pleaded. «This is the line followed by the party since its creation and it complies with our ideology», he further explained.
«Any other approach or behavior, in these difficult conditions, can only serve the enemies of the nation (…) It is an honor for us at the PJD to contribute to this project launched by the King aiming at consolidating Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara».
«The PJD and Morocco did not betray the Palestinian cause»
El Othmani also addressed the very sensitive issue of normalizing ties with Israel. «As head of the government, I have responsibilities. What I did (signing the Declaration of December 22) was as head of the Moroccan government. As Abdelilah Benkirane said, the second personality of the State cannot contradict the first personality of the State», El Othmani said.
While assuming his responsibility in formalizing normalization with Israel, the PJD secretary general brushed off all allegations accusing the party and Morocco of «betraying» the Palestinian cause. «I am surprised by those who attack the party, accuse it of changing its position. We reject the attacks and any questioning of the party's position and Morocco's position regarding the struggle of the Palestinian people», he stressed.
The PJD has indeed been criticized by branches of the Muslim Brotherhood in the Arab world. In Morocco, Al Adl wal Ihsane jumped at the opportunity to settle accounts with the Lamp Party.
Responding to critics, El Othmani has even threatened to resign. The PJD will hold an extraordinary session of the national council of the party, devoted to the examination of the resumption of diplomatic relations with Israel. He argued that members of the body, including Benkirane, requested the cancellation of the meeting, originally scheduled for December 27.
