Former Moroccan prime minister Abdelilah Benkirane has reaffirmed his support for Palestinians, linking that position to Morocco’s Arab, Amazigh and Muslim identities. Benkirane leads the Justice and Development Party (PJD), which has returned to parliament as a larger opposition force.
Remarks Follow Election Gains
Speaking at a party event celebrating its performance in the September 23 legislative election, Benkirane rejected the idea that Moroccans should identify with Israel. He said the country’s people stand with Palestine and the Palestinians, alongside Morocco’s king and government.
The PJD won 54 of the 395 seats in the House of Representatives, up from 13 seats in the 2021 election. The result restores the party as a significant presence on the opposition benches after its sharp losses in the previous vote.
Debate Over Normalisation
Benkirane’s remarks came amid debate in Morocco over relations with Israel and the country’s position on Palestine. The former prime minister argued that popular solidarity with Palestinians reflects a broader national outlook, rather than a narrow party calculation.
The party’s stronger parliamentary showing gives Benkirane and the PJD a larger platform to press that message, even as the government continues to manage Morocco’s foreign relations and domestic priorities.
