Morocco: Calls for Protests Monday to Support Jerada Detainees

Citizens protest in Jerada for development. Asharq Al-Awsat Arabic.
Citizens protest in Jerada for development. Asharq Al-Awsat Arabic.
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Morocco: Calls for Protests Monday to Support Jerada Detainees

Citizens protest in Jerada for development. Asharq Al-Awsat Arabic.
Citizens protest in Jerada for development. Asharq Al-Awsat Arabic.

The local committee entrusted with backing Jerada movement, east Morocco, called for protests on Monday infront of the Palace of Justice to support the detainees. The committee demanded that responsible authorities respond to social requests and provide adequate conditions for a dialogue.

Meanwhile, the US Consulate General in Casablanca urged American citizens in Morocco to avoid traveling to Jerada. Based on Media reports, the American mission in the Kingdom wrote that "numerous demonstrations and protests continue to occur in Jerada on regular basis and there have been reports of confrontations between security forces and demonstrators."

In the same context, Morocco's Unified Socialist Party expressed support to the popular movement in Jerada.

In a statement, the party rejected the policy of promises that is adopted by the authorities in tackling the demands. The Unified Socialist Party asserted that any serious dialogue should be paired with a real development strategy, as this is the correct choice to save the region from marginalization and shortage in all fields

In its turn, the Democratic Way described the intervention of security forces in Jerada as a hasty step, demanding prompt release of detainees and refusing the charges against it of provoking people to protest.

The Moroccan government addressed the protests in ts weekly meeting on Thursday.

Ministry of Interior Abdelouafi Laftit presented a brief about the historic development of the city since the liquidation of Jerada charcoal kilns company in 1998, and the latest updates as well as the visit of the prime minister to the region.

Commenting on the clashes, Laftit said that they left injured, most of them from the security forces. Further, five vehicles were burned and other vehicles and equipment were damaged.



Lebanon, Israel Ceasefire Deal Will Take Place in Three Phases and ‘Simultaneous’ Withdrawals

 Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs, known as Dahiyeh, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP)
Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs, known as Dahiyeh, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP)
TT

Lebanon, Israel Ceasefire Deal Will Take Place in Three Phases and ‘Simultaneous’ Withdrawals

 Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs, known as Dahiyeh, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP)
Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs, known as Dahiyeh, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP)

Informed sources revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat that US-President elect Donald Trump agreed on the steps that President Joe Biden’s administration will take to ensure the success of the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel.

Israel approved the ceasefire on Tuesday night after Lebanon had already agreed to it.

The sources, which followed up on the negotiations for the 60-day truce, said the steps call for the withdrawal of Hezbollah fighters and their weapons from the South where the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon is deployed. In return, Israeli forces will withdraw from southern Lebanon.

More negotiations through American mediators will take place throughout the process.

The sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Trump “gave his blessing” to the process during his meeting with Biden at the White House two weeks ago.

A committee led by the US will oversee the implementation of the withdrawal. France, Lebanon, Israel and UNIFIL are also part of the committee.

Asharq Al-Awsat learned that Hezbollah’s withdrawal will take place in three 20-day phases. The first withdrawal will take place in the western sector.

It will coincide with an Israeli pullout from areas it occupied in that region. A strengthened Lebanese army force and UNIFIL troops will deploy in their place.

The second phase will cover the central sector and follow the same process.

The residents of the frontline southern villages will not be allowed to return to their homes immediately until they are deemed safe and after ensuring that no Hezbollah members or weapons remain there.

Residents of the so-called second and third line of villages south of the Litani River will be allowed to return to their homes immediately.

The source expected the US to play an “effective role” in the mechanism to oversee the withdrawal. It did not clarify whether any American forces will take part in the process.

It revealed that Britain and other countries will “exert special efforts to verify whether illegitimate weapons are being smuggled to Hezbollah.”

The five-member committee will not replace the tripartite committee already in place and that includes Lebanon, Israel and UNIFIL.