In Throne Speech, HM the King Set out Parameters of Morocco’s Position on Middle East Question and Situation in Gaza – FM –

His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al Quds Committee, set out in the latest Throne Speech the parameters of Morocco’s position on the Middle East question and the situation in Gaza, said Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita. Speaking at a press briefing following his meeting with Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration, Chadians Abroad and International Cooperation, Government Spokesman Abderaman Koulamallah, Bourita pointed out that HM the King devoted a significant part of this year’s Throne Speech to developments in the Middle East region, which bears witness to the special interest and personal monitoring by the Sovereign of the situation in this region. His Majesty the King places the Palestinian question on the same level as the national cause, he added, pointing out that the interest shown by the Sovereign in the situation in the Middle East is deeply symbolic and sends out a strong signal, in the sense that His Majesty the King has defined and reiterated the parameters of the Moroccan stance on this issue. In this respect, Bourita cited among these parameters the Kingdom’s support for « constructive initiatives aimed at finding practical solutions for the conclusion of a concrete and lasting ceasefire and the recovery of the humanitarian situation ». Noting that Morocco supports all positions and initiatives aimed at establishing an effective ceasefire, he recalled that on the High Instructions of His Majesty the King, the Kingdom has lent its support to the three-phase initiative presented by US President Joe Biden. « Morocco reacts positively to the joint statement by the United States, Qatar and Egypt, aimed at speeding up the holding of meetings and finalising negotiations aimed at achieving a ceasefire and facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid », he added. He also emphasised that the Kingdom calls on all parties to respond positively to this appeal, considering that there would be no solution without de-escalation with a view to breaking the current deadlock in the region. Secondly, Bourita recalled that HM the King had stated in the Throne Speech that «opting for negotiations to revive the peace process between the Palestinian and Israeli sides requires cutting off the path for extremists – from whatever side they may come, » pointing out that this was a signal that the Kingdom rejects violence against civilians on both sides. Morocco, he added, also categorically rejects the actions of certain extremist elements in the Israeli government, particularly the incursions into the esplanade of the Al-Aqsa mosque. He also said that the Sovereign, Chairman of the Al Quds Committee, had condemned these provocative acts, which do not contribute to calming the situation, just as they hurt the feelings of Muslims and stir up hatred in the region. The attacks carried out by extremists against hospitals and, more recently, against the Al-Taba’een school, are « unacceptable », he added, stressing that Morocco denounces these acts and considers them an « inadmissible crime». These acts should be treated as a crime committed by the Israeli authorities and the extremists in the Israeli government, who resort to such actions that are rejected by the heavenly prescriptions, international law and human values, noted the minister. Referring to the third point contained in the Throne Speech, Bourita noted that « the worsening of the situation in the region requires us to move away from the logic of crisis management in favor of seeking a definitive solution to this conflict, » stressing that « without a genuine process in the region, we will only emerge from one crisis into another, which will exacerbate the humanitarian and security cost of the crisis, threaten stability and create a climate of hatred in a region that needs stability more than ever ». He also called on the international community and the Security Council to assume their responsibilities and prevent the situation from deteriorating, the conflict from spreading or other parties from becoming involved, which could have serious consequences for the region. In this regard, Bourita recalled that for HM the King, the two-State solution remains the only way in which Gaza remains an integral part of the territories of the independent Palestinian State, with East Al-Quds as its capital, on the 1967 borders.