Moroccan Youth Visit Israel Amidst Domestic Threats

A group of young Moroccans recently visited Israel to gain a deeper understanding of the Jewish State, despite facing significant anti-Israel sentiment back home. They toured Israel as part of the Sharaka program, which brings young professionals from across the Middle East to explore and experience Israel firsthand.

One of the students, who identified himself as Ali to protect his identity due to threats in Morocco, expressed his aspirations to become the Moroccan ambassador to Israel one day. Upon arriving in Ben Gurion Airport, Ali told the Times of Israel, “I thought we were in Miami.”

The Sharaka program took the group on a comprehensive tour of Israel, allowing them to connect with the country on a personal level. They visited major sites in Jerusalem, including the Knesset, Yad Vashem, the Old City, and Al Aqsa Mosque. The group also traveled to the southern region to witness the devastated kibbutzim and the site of the Nova festival massacre, before heading to Tel Aviv.

Youssef Elazhari, Sharaka’s director in Morocco, recruited the travelers, who were primarily young professionals working for non-profits. He praised the participants for their bravery in visiting Israel during the ongoing Gaza conflict despite facing pressure in Morocco. “They had no fear,” Elazhari said.

Although Morocco normalized relations with Israel in 2020 as part of the Abraham Accords, anti-Israel sentiments have surged in the country following the events of October 7 and the Gaza war. One participant, Layla, was pleasantly surprised to see Arabs and Jews coexisting peacefully in Jerusalem. “On my way to Al-Aqsa,” she recounted, “I saw Palestinians playing in the streets. No one was aggressive toward them; they were being respected, and I think that this image gives hope that there can be coexistence and love between Israelis and Palestinians.”

Layla acknowledged the challenges of sharing her positive experiences of Israel with her friends back home. “Anything that restores the image of Israel and shows it as human, and not monsters that kill all Palestinians, is seen as propaganda,” she told the Times of Israel. “This hate is real. People don’t want us to talk about how Israel wants peace.”

The visit by these young Moroccans highlights the potential for building bridges and fostering understanding despite the prevailing tensions and hostilities. Their experiences underscore the importance of person-to-person interactions in overcoming deep-seated prejudices and misconceptions.

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