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.



Independent Israeli Commission Blames Netanyahu and Others for October 2023 Attack

A protester walks between vehicles as people protest demanding the release of hostages who were kidnapped during the deadly October 7, 2023 attack, ahead of a possible ceasefire deal between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, in Tel Aviv, Israel, November 26, 2024. (Reuters)
A protester walks between vehicles as people protest demanding the release of hostages who were kidnapped during the deadly October 7, 2023 attack, ahead of a possible ceasefire deal between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, in Tel Aviv, Israel, November 26, 2024. (Reuters)
TT

Independent Israeli Commission Blames Netanyahu and Others for October 2023 Attack

A protester walks between vehicles as people protest demanding the release of hostages who were kidnapped during the deadly October 7, 2023 attack, ahead of a possible ceasefire deal between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, in Tel Aviv, Israel, November 26, 2024. (Reuters)
A protester walks between vehicles as people protest demanding the release of hostages who were kidnapped during the deadly October 7, 2023 attack, ahead of a possible ceasefire deal between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, in Tel Aviv, Israel, November 26, 2024. (Reuters)

The independent civilian commission of inquiry into the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel has found Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly responsible for the failures leading up to the attack, alongside former defense ministers, the army chief and the heads of the security services.

The civil commission presented its findings today after a four-month probe in which it heard some 120 witnesses. It was set up by relatives of victims of the Hamas attack, in response to the absence of any state probe.

The commission determined that the Israeli government, its army and security services “failed in their primary mission of protecting the citizens of Israel.”

It said Netanyahu was responsible for ignoring “repeated warnings” ahead of Oct. 7, 2023 for what it described as his appeasing approach over the years toward Hamas, and for “undermining all decision-making centers, including the cabinet and the National Security Council, in a way that prevented any serious discussion” on security issues.

The commission further determined that the military and defense leaders bear blame for ignoring warnings from within the army, and for reducing the army’s presence along the Gaza border while relying excessively on technological means.

On the day of the Hamas attack, the report says, the army’s response was both slow and lacking.

The civil commission called for the immediate establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the Oct. 7 attack.

Netanyahu has opposed launching a state commission of inquiry, arguing that such an investigation should begin only once the war is over.