Morocco, Israel and "a bit of Mea Culpa"

Relations with Israel

Relations with Israel have deteriorated since the beginning of the second
Intifada in the fall of 2000. The Israeli Liaison Office in Rabat was closed.
The thousands of Israeli visitors who regularly came to rediscover their
roots in Morocco are now few and far between. Muslim Moroccans are
increasing vocal about Israel�s repression of Palestinians. Their strong
feelings about politics do not translate into their feelings about Jews,
however. Many Moroccans point proudly to the fact that a small number
of Jews joined the Palestinian solidarity demonstration in Rabat. Any talk
about the responsibility of the Moroccan Jewish community for the
situation in Israel and Palestine is quickly rebuffed, as demonstrated by
this letter by Ahmed Houssine in the July 12, 2002 issue of the Moroccan
magazine Tel Quel:
" � We, simple citizens, Muslims, ask ourselves this question frequently: "
Does Islam incite hate, racism and violence? Do we agree that this
religion, our religion of peace, love and tolerance, should be used for
political ends? That is unacceptable. What have we done to the Moroccan
Jews? They are attacked and accused of emigrating to Israel. Haven�t they
contributed to the greatness of this country from its very beginnings?
Before the arrival of Islam in North Africa, Jews and native peoples lived in
harmony. Native tribes converted to Judaism. Genetic and cultural
integration took place, in the absence of any religious obstacles.
However, under the Almohade Empire, in the name of Islam, Jewish tribes
and other Jewish peoples were forced to convert. Those who refused to
convert were decapitated. One "witness" of this period, whose name is
still disturbing, is the "sahat lfna," or the execution/eradication square in
Marrakesh. Many Jews converted to Islam during this period, and we carry
their genes. That is the most significant taboo. During the sixties, Jewish
families in Casablanca and other cities were attacked and mistreated � to
avenge Israel!!! And this was, among others, the reason that pushed them
to leave the country for other destinations, Canada, France and of course
Israel, and for some of them to be seduced by Zionism. And this is our
fault. A little bit of mea culpa, please."


from http://rickgold.home.mindspring.com/post%20september%
2011.htm

USA-NIQAABI wrote: They were already of the Jewish faith how could they have been seduced by something they already believed.. �

Being Jewish and being a Zionist often go together but not as often as you
think. Orthodox Jews do not recognize the Jewish state. When the sirens
go off for our fallen on independence day, You won't see any black clad
rabbis standing at attention or offering a respectful 60 seconds of
silence. Not all Zionists are Israeli not all Israeli's are Jewish some of us
are Muslims. It's very complicated. People here feel very passionately
about policy here. I happen to be Jewish my next door neighbor when I
first moved to Israel is Muslim and our families have been like one
extended family for 15 years now. We don't do business together we just
like each other. The leadership in america and in Israel leaves a lot to be
desired. But people are another story. The more we know about each
other the harder it is to nail one another



Edited by Daniel Dworsky