Since the resurgence of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, several African countries have seen demonstrations of support for the Palestinian people. The official reactions reflect the relations that each of these states maintains with Israel. If South Africa and Algeria hammer home their historic position of support for a Palestinian state, Morocco must manage a delicate position as the kingdom recently announced the normalization of its relations with the Jewish state.
South Africa: a call to the international community
Several protests in support of the Palestinians have gathered hundreds of people in different cities across the country over the past week. Friday, May 14, the government of Cyril Ramaphosa, through the voice of his ministry for international relations and cooperation, “Firmly” condemned “Israel’s unjust attacks on Palestinian civilians” in a press release. He calls on the international community to intervene and calls for the opening of an investigation into the actions of the Israeli government to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for possible “Crimes against humanity”.
Evoking an escalation “Shameful” on the part of Israel, South Africa calls for the immediate cessation of hostilities and the abandonment of “Scheduled expulsions of Palestinian families” in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in Jerusalem. The country reaffirms its long-standing support for the resumption of negotiations aimed at establishing a “Viable Palestinian state”.
Page Contents
“An endless cycle of violence”
In February 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa compared the peace process proposed by former US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the Bantustan system, these regions created during the apartheid period, reserved for black populations and who enjoyed a certain degree of autonomy.
South Africa is one of some 130 countries to recognize the sovereignty of the Palestinian state. The country established diplomatic relations with Palestinian officials as early as 1995, shortly after Nelson Mandela came to power. On Wednesday May 12, his grandson, ANC MP Mandla Mandela, called for the closure of the South African embassy in Israel during a protest in Cape Town.
In a statement, the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation believes the current situation is in line with “An endless cycle of violence which can be attributed to a long series of injustices done to the Palestinians”. It calls on the United Nations to intervene in order to put an end to “The escalation towards civil war”.
In Morocco, embarrassment after standardization
The resurgence of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has caused unrest in the country. Since December 2020, the kingdom has restored its diplomatic relations with the Hebrew state, in exchange for the recognition by the United States of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara. A sizeable counterpart, which had made it possible to have the decision endorsed by a large part of the population and to calm the current of opinion in the United States.
But the attacks in Jerusalem made the diplomatic victory of the kingdom forgotten. Rallies in solidarity with the Palestinian people were held in Rabat and Casablanca on May 10, before being dispersed by a large police force. The indignation then continued on social networks, where Internet users question Morocco’s position, while King Mohammed VI is chairman of the Al-Quds committee, created by the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OCI ) to work for the preservation of Jerusalem’s heritage.
Rejection of “any normalization with the Zionist entity”
The foreign minister reacted in a statement on May 9, expressing the “Deep concern” of Morocco in the face of “Violent incidents” in Jerusalem, without however taking a clear position. Nasser Bourita, who attended an emergency meeting of Arab foreign ministers on May 11, recalled the country’s support for the solution of “Two states”. Morocco has also planned to send humanitarian aid of 40 tons of essential food products, medicines and blankets. “For the benefit of the Palestinian population in the West Bank and Gaza Strip”.
But the situation is particularly embarrassing for the head of government, Saad-Eddine Al-Othmani, from the Justice and Development Party (PJD, Islamist), very attached to the Palestinian cause. The one who categorically rejected “Any normalization with the Zionist entity” in 2019 had remained silent after the agreement signed in December. Mr. Al-Othmani said he spoke with the head of the Hamas political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, and raised the situation of the Palestinians “At the top of his concerns”. Under pressure, the government ended up authorizing a sit-in on May 15 in Rabat, organized by people close to the PJD.
Algeria denounces an “occupation policy”
Algeria condemned, Sunday May 9, “The racist and extremist attacks recorded in the occupied city of Al-Quds [Jérusalem] against Palestinian civilians ”. In a statement from the foreign ministry, the country called on the international community to protect “Holy places” and to end the “Israeli policy of occupation of the Palestinian territories”.
At the end of the emergency meeting of the Arab League council, which was held on Tuesday, May 11, Sabri Boukadoum, Minister of Foreign Affairs urged member countries to reactivate “Arab-Muslim solidarity” to advance the Palestinian cause.
“Heroic resistance to the occupation”
The day before, a rally of support took place in the Palestinian embassy in Algiers. On social networks, images from Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip are widely relayed by Internet users.
In his greetings to Algerians, Wednesday, May 12, on the occasion of the feast of Eid al-Fitr, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune wished to recall “The sacrifices of the brotherly Palestinian people who lead a heroic resistance to the occupation”.
Algeria, particularly committed to the defense of the Palestinian cause, reiterated its desire to see the establishment of an independent state based on the 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as its capital. It was in Algiers, on November 15, 1988, that Yasser Arafat proclaimed the creation of the Palestinian state.
The country, which does not recognize Israel, has ruled out any form of normalization with the Jewish state. “We will not participate in it and we do not endorse it”, said Abdelmadjid Tebboune, in September 2020.
Tunisia: demonstrations of support
The mobilization in favor of the Palestinians began on social media with many internet users and influencers sharing information about the Israeli bombing in Gaza. At the initiative of several youth movements from the Tunisian left and civil society, nearly three hundred people came out to demonstrate on Habib-Bourguiba Avenue in Tunis, Saturday May 15, to travel to the Palestinian embassy. Protesters held up signs that read: “Save Gaza”, “Save Sheikh Jarrah” , “Gaza Under Attack”. Protesters unfurled a giant flag of Palestine during the protest.
Faced with Israeli attacks
Despite the containment in force, another demonstration took place at the Place de la Kasbah, organized by the Islamo-conservative Ennahda party. Other demonstrations of support took place in the cities of Sfax and Monastir. Teachers’ unions also called on schools to hoist the Palestinian flag next to the Tunisian on Monday, May 17, as a sign of solidarity.
The President of the Republic of Tunisia, Kaïs Saïed, reaffirmed his commitment to the Palestinian cause and praised the resistance of the Palestinian people to the Israeli attacks, during a telephone interview with the head of the political office of Hamas, Imail Haniyeh , Tuesday May 11.
Senegal: a call for de-escalation
President Macky Sall called on May 13 for de-escalation in the Palestinian territories and in Israel. This speech, recalling the importance of cohabitation and interreligious dialogue, was delivered on the occasion of the feast of Korité – Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan – and of Ascension. Two festivals celebrated on the same day in this 95% Muslim country.
After condemning the violence, the Head of State recalled that Senegal has chaired the United Nations Committee for the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People since 1976. “It is our duty to make this appeal, and Israel is also a partner, we invite them to take into account the situation and act in the direction of appeasement”, he added.
