Thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets across Moroccan cities to demand an end to diplomatic normalisation with Israel, exposing a growing disconnect between official state policy and public sentiment. The nationwide rallies culminated on September 27 following three days of action called by the Moroccan Front for Supporting Palestine and Against Normalisation, with gatherings reported in major urban centers including Rabat, Casablanca, and Marrakesh.
The surge in public unrest follows a September 16 announcement that Morocco and Israel will elevate their diplomatic missions to full embassies and exchange ambassadors. The agreement was reached during a trilateral meeting in New York between Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, and US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz. Beyond exchanging ambassadors, the two nations agreed to expand direct flights and finalize bilateral pacts on investment protection and double taxation.
The deepening of formal ties builds upon the December 2020 US-brokered Abraham Accords, in which Morocco restored diplomatic relations with Israel alongside US recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. However, opponents of normalisation argue that closer institutional links are incompatible with public sentiment, particularly amid the war in Gaza. Moroccan activists cited recent data from the Arab Opinion Index showing that 89 percent of Moroccans surveyed opposed recognizing Israel.
The protests also met with security intervention in several locations. In Tangier, local authorities banned a planned demonstration on September 27, leading security forces to disperse participants and detain more than 12 people. As the UN Security Council prepares to review the mandate for the peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara (MINURSO) in October, the demonstrations highlight the persistent domestic friction surrounding Rabat's broader foreign policy strategic calculations.