Moroccan king calls Moroccan-born Jews to vote for peace
Morocco, Politics, 5/4/1999

King Hassan II on Monday voiced hope that Moroccan-born Jews will vote for peace in the upcoming general elections in Israel.

"I am sure that you will vote for peace and for those who work for peace in the coming elections," said King Hassan II as he received the founding members of the Moroccan Jews World Union.

The king, who insisted that he does not want to interfere in Israel's internal affairs, added that peace cannot be established within a single day. "It is an endeavor that requires patience, (...) endurance and faith."

He called for using the limited resources of the Middle-East region to the benefit of its people.

"If efforts are intensified with determination, I am persuaded that this region, land of prophets and messengers (Peace be upon them), will be a paradise," he said.

In an address before the king, Raphy Edery, president of the Moroccan Jews World Union and of its executive committee, expressed gratitude to King Hassan II for having granted his patronage to the union's constituent meeting.

Edery, who renewed the attachment of all Moroccan-born Jews to Morocco and to the King, said the union's prime objective is to mark the identity of Moroccan Jews, consolidate their centuries-old roots, culture and tradition, as a witness to the coexistence between the Jews and Muslims of Morocco, proclaim their will to establish peace between Israelis, Palestinians and Arabs, while assuring the security of the Middle East.

Edery recalled how Jews, fleeing the implacable inquisition in Spain in the 15th century, found in Morocco a haven of peace. Since then, he said, Jews lived in complete harmony throughout Morocco, where they contributed to life and to economic development.

He laid a special emphasis on the historic stance taken by the late King Mohammed V (King Hassan II's father) who braved the orders of the French Vichy Government and saved the lives of the Jews of his country. The late King's sentence "Here (in Morocco), there are no Jews. There are only Moroccans" will resonate forever in our hearts, Edery said.

Raphy Edery also highlighted the key and ever-active role that King Hassan II has always played for rapprochement between peoples.

"As an inspired visionary and a man of courage and conviction, you have always advocated dialogue, entente, maturity and lucidity," he said.

He also voiced the attachment of all Jews, regardless of their political trends, to "a genuine, warm and loyal peace, made up of mutual understanding and respect."

Previous Stories:
  Moroccan Jews set up world union   (5/3/1999)
  Israeli delegation in Morocco   (4/29/1999)

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