Othmani Rejects 'Betrayal' Accusations Following Deal with Israel

Morocco's Head of Government Saad Eddine El Othmani poses a picture during an interview with Reuters in Rabat, Morocco November 17, 2020. REUTERS/Ahmed ElJechtimi
Morocco's Head of Government Saad Eddine El Othmani poses a picture during an interview with Reuters in Rabat, Morocco November 17, 2020. REUTERS/Ahmed ElJechtimi
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Othmani Rejects 'Betrayal' Accusations Following Deal with Israel

Morocco's Head of Government Saad Eddine El Othmani poses a picture during an interview with Reuters in Rabat, Morocco November 17, 2020. REUTERS/Ahmed ElJechtimi
Morocco's Head of Government Saad Eddine El Othmani poses a picture during an interview with Reuters in Rabat, Morocco November 17, 2020. REUTERS/Ahmed ElJechtimi

Morocco’s Prime Minister Saad Eddine El Othmani has denounced statements accusing him of “betraying” the Palestinian cause, after Morocco signed the joint declaration with the US and Israel on Dec. 22.

Speaking during a virtual meeting with the Justice and Development Party, Othmani said that he accepts the criticism, however, rejects any questioning of the party's position and that of Morocco, regarding the Palestinian cause.

He asserted that there are no compromises when it comes to the Palestinian cause, as well as the Sahara issue.

While assuming his responsibility in formalizing normalization with Israel, Othmani brushed off all allegations accusing the party and Morocco of “betraying” the Palestinians.

“I am surprised by those who attack the party, accusing it of changing its position. We reject the attacks and any questioning of the party's position and Morocco's position regarding the struggle of the Palestinian people,” he stressed.

He also stressed that he still rejects the violations committed by the occupation against Palestinians and the settlements activities, stressing support to the demands of the Palestinians’ right to return to their country.

Commenting on the deal to resume ties with Israel, Othmani said that the foreign policy of Morocco is determined by the King.

“As head of the government, I have responsibilities. What I did (signing the Declaration of December 22) was as head of the Moroccan government. As Abdelilah Benkirane said, the second personality of the State cannot contradict the first personality of the State», Othmani said.



Israeli Strike Targets Residential Building in Syria’s Damascus, Say State Media

People gather by damaged vehicles at the site of a reported Israeli air strike on a residential building, where reportedly senior members of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and Lebanese Hezbollah meet, in the Mezzeh suburb on the western outskirts of Syria's capital Damascus on October 8, 2024. (AFP)
People gather by damaged vehicles at the site of a reported Israeli air strike on a residential building, where reportedly senior members of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and Lebanese Hezbollah meet, in the Mezzeh suburb on the western outskirts of Syria's capital Damascus on October 8, 2024. (AFP)
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Israeli Strike Targets Residential Building in Syria’s Damascus, Say State Media

People gather by damaged vehicles at the site of a reported Israeli air strike on a residential building, where reportedly senior members of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and Lebanese Hezbollah meet, in the Mezzeh suburb on the western outskirts of Syria's capital Damascus on October 8, 2024. (AFP)
People gather by damaged vehicles at the site of a reported Israeli air strike on a residential building, where reportedly senior members of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and Lebanese Hezbollah meet, in the Mezzeh suburb on the western outskirts of Syria's capital Damascus on October 8, 2024. (AFP)

An Israeli strike targeted a residential building in the Mezzah suburb west of the Syrian capital Damascus, Syria's state news agency reported on Tuesday.

Preliminary reports indicated that the strike had resulted in injuries among civilians, Syrian state media reported.

State media earlier reported that Syria's air defenses had intercepted "hostile" targets in the vicinity of Damascus.

Israel has been carrying out strikes against Iran-linked targets in Syria for years but has ramped up such raids since last year's Oct. 7 attack by Palestinian group Hamas on Israeli territory that sparked the Gaza war.