• Wed. Dec 4th, 2024

Algeria has another anti-Morocco meltdown during an Arab Summit meeting.

Map of Algeria with a blue pushpin stuck

Algeria protested the meeting over a statement acknowledging Morocco’s support for the Palestinian cause over the years by the Al-Quds Committee and its chairman Morocco’s King Mohammed VI
USA President Joe Biden acknowledged Morocco’s support as Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee
https://twitter.com/HAIDAAbdelali/status/1611698272124420097
In an effort to help cool down the situation the Pakistani Presidency of the group introduced a part that highlighted Algeria’s commitment to the Palestinian Cause. However the move was not enough to appease Algeria’s permanent representative to the UN, Mohamed Ennadir Larbaoui. In protest the Algerian representative refused to take part in the most recent condemning a surprise visit to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem by Israel’s newly appointed National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Tuesday.
Ben-Gvir was quoted as saying “Our government will not surrender to the threats of Hamas,” Ben-Gvir said in a statement, after the Palestinian militant group had said such a move would be a “red line”. The Palestinian Authority viewed the visit as a “blatant and shameless provocation” that could escalate tensions and result in violence and loss of life.
Algeria held a reconciliation summit in October (11th and 12th) in an attempt to heal the divisions in the PLO headed by Fatah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad. It was hoped that the meeting would be able to reconcile the differences between the factions as well as deepen Algeria – Palestinian Relations.
The Battle for Palestine as well as differences over the occupation of the Western Sahara have brought the two countries almost to the brink of war.

Sources:
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2023/01/353423/algeria-interrupts-arab-summit-over-statement-acknowledging-moroccos-support-for-palestine

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20221011-algeria-hosts-palestinian-reconciliation-meetings/

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/03/extreme-right-israel-minister-itamar-ben-gvir-visits-al-aqsa-mosque-compound