Around 600 faculty members and administrative staff at Abdelmalek Essaadi University in Tetouan have signed a petition calling for the cancellation of a partnership agreement with the Israeli University of Haifa.
The petition, which was submitted to the university president on Thursday states that the signatories are demanding “the cancellation of the agreement signed with the University of Haifa and the cessation of all forms of normalization with the occupation entity and all university institutions affiliated with it.”
The petition also sais that the initiative is a step of solidarity with the Palestinian people against the crimes of genocide and crimes against humanity that they have been subjected to for more than 8 months.
The petitioners add that the crimes of the occupation forces have deliberately and systematically targeted all higher education institutions, which have witnessed the martyrdom of university presidents, deans, professors and students.
In September 2022, Abdelmalek Essaadi University in Tetouan and the University of Haifa signed a partnership agreement that includes academic cooperation.
Several Moroccan cities, including the capital Rabat, have witnessed solidarity rallies with the Gaza Strip, which has been under Israeli war since October 7, 2023, with participants calling for the severing of ties with Tel Aviv, an end to the Israeli aggressions, and the entry of aid.
In December 2022, Morocco and Israel resumed diplomatic relations with American mediation, in a move that was rejected by Moroccans.
The normalization of ties between Morocco and Israel was followed by visits of high-ranking Israeli officials to Rabat, which were eventually interrupted with the start of the aggressions on Gaza.
The demand to cancel the partnership agreement with the University of Haifa comes as part of a broader movement in Morocco against normalization with Israel.
This movement has gained momentum in recent months, following the Israeli aggression on Gaza, which has killed hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, including children.
It remains to be seen whether the university president will heed the demands of the faculty members and staff. However, the petition is a sign of the growing opposition to normalization with Israel in Morocco.
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