Thousands in Morocco protest US peace confab, burn Israeli flags

Demonstrators chant 'Death to Israel' and 'Death to the United States' in Rabat, days before Bahrain economic conference

By AFP 23 June 2019, 5:51 pm
Protesters tear at a makeshift Israeli flag during a protest in the Moroccan capital Rabat on June 23, 2019, against the US-led economic conference in Bahrain with its declared aim of achieving Palestinian prosperity. (AFP)

RABAT, Morocco — Thousands protested Sunday in Morocco against a planned conference in Bahrain where the economic component of a US-led plan for peace between Israel and the Palestinians is set to be unveiled.

Demonstrators gathered in the capital Rabat burned an Israeli flag near Morocco’s parliament and shouted “Death to Israel!” and “Death to the United States!”

The economic aspects of the US plan — dubbed the Peace to Prosperity workshop — are set to be discussed by attendees at a meeting in Manama on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Other slogans decried “Arab traitor regimes” for planning to attend the conference, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Women chant slogans and gesture as they march with Palestinian flags during a demonstration in the Moroccan capital Rabat on June 23, 2019 against the US-led economic conference in Bahrain with its declared aim of achieving Palestinian prosperity. (AFP)

The US said on June 12 that Morocco would be one of several countries to attend the peace summit. Rabat has remained mum on the issue.

The White House revealed key details on Saturday, including a target of raising more than $50 billion in investment and creating more than a million jobs for the Palestinians over 10 years.

Women chant slogans and gesture as they march with a large banner during a demonstration in the Moroccan capital Rabat on June 23, 2019 against the US-led economic conference in Bahrain with its declared aim of achieving Palestinian prosperity. (AFP)

But the Palestinian Authority is boycotting the event and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday rejected the economic plan, which he said “should not be discussed” in the absence of a political solution.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.

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