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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
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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.

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After Debate, Iraqi Armed Factions Refuse to Disband

Members of the al-Nujaba movement during a military parade. (Al-Nujaba)
Members of the al-Nujaba movement during a military parade. (Al-Nujaba)
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After Debate, Iraqi Armed Factions Refuse to Disband

Members of the al-Nujaba movement during a military parade. (Al-Nujaba)
Members of the al-Nujaba movement during a military parade. (Al-Nujaba)

Undersecretary of the Iraqi Foreign Minister Hisham al-Alawi stressed on Sunday that the dismantling and disarmament of armed factions was an internal Iraqi affair.

He added: “Iraq is interested in amicably resolving problems with regional countries. Regional stability is necessary for development.”

On the factions, he said it was necessary to make a distinction between the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and other factions that are not aligned to it.

The PMF, he explained, is an integral part of Iraq’s security and military institutions.

“Neutralizing the factions that operate outside the state is an Iraqi affair. Iraq is concerned with neutralizing them when it comes to their external actions,” he remarked.

He made his remarks days after Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein told Asharq Al-Awsat that the possession of weapons outside the control of the state was “unacceptable”.

He said the government was “trying to convince the armed factions” to lay down their arms. This has cast doubt in the country over its actual ability to handle the issue given the persistent internal disputes, especially between Shiite forces.

Meanwhile, the Al-Nujaba and Saraya Awliya al-Dam factions announced that they were suspending their operations against Israel as the ceasefire in Gaza took effect.

However, al-Nujaba politburo head Ali al-Assadi said the “weapons of the resistance were legitimate” and that his movement has not been asked to lay down its arms.

This marks the first statement in over two months over the possession of weapons by a faction of the “Resistance Axis” that is allied with Iran.

Al-Assadi said on Saturday that the “Iraqi resistance is ready to support the military operations should Israel resume its attacks on Gaza.”

This means that all the statements and debates about the weapons have been effectively dismissed by the factions.

The government has not called on the al-Nujaba to lay down its weapons or to disband, al-Assadi continued.

“The foreign minister’s comments about the issue are unrealistic and all politicians know that were it not for the resistance, they wouldn’t be in their positions,” he stressed.

On Higher Shiite Authority Ali al-Sistani's statements two months ago on the need to limit the possession of arms to the state, al-Assadi said: “He was not referring to the resistance factions.”

He added, however, that the factions “are ready to lay down their arms if Sistani directly and openly says so.”