Moroccan FM: Morocco has ceased all contacts with Israel
Morocco-Israel, Politics, 5/28/2001

Morocco's minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa, said Saturday no Israeli official has visited Morocco since Rabat decided to close down the Israeli liaison office in the kingdom.

The head of the Moroccan diplomacy, who took part on Saturday in Doha in the extraordinary foreign ministers' meeting of the Organization of Islamic Conference, told Doha-based "Al Jazeera" satellite TV station that since the latest Islamic summit (which called Muslim states to end contacts with the Jewish state), Morocco has not received any visit of an Israeli official and has stopped all contacts with Israel.

Morocco decided last October to close the Israeli liaison office in Rabat and the Moroccan one in Tel Aviv.

Asked on guarantees on the enforcement of Arab decisions to cut all contacts with Israel, the official said from a political and moral point of views, these decisions should enjoy the backing of all, but, he went on, each country is sovereign in making the appropriate decisions.

Benaissa also explained that popular backing to the Intifadah can in no way be an alternative to the official support and cited the Moroccan official, non-governmental and popular initiatives to raise funds to support the Intifadah.

Regarding the results of the OIC foreign ministers meeting, he said participants have openly called the United States to heed concerns of the Islamic nation over Israeli ruthless and serious practices against the Palestinian people.

Benaissa was received on Saturday by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Ben Khalifa Al Thani.

Qatari news agency "QNA" reports that the two men discussed bilateral relations, latest developments of the situation in the middle east and the peace process.

Recommendations of the OIC foreign ministers extraordinary meeting were also brought up, QNA said.

Previous Stories:
  Moroccan NGO warns against introducing star of David among world emblems   (5/19/2001)
  Morocco denies any cooperation with Israel in agriculture   (5/4/2001)
  Moroccan FM on Sharon's elections: we should not anticipate events   (2/9/2001)

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