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Published on : Friday, February 19, 2021
Recent agreements reached between Morocco and Israel offer many opportunities and have the potential of engendering organic and warm relations between the two countries.
Both countries have long had relations, mostly secret and/or unofficial. Hundreds of thousands of Israelis have already visited Morocco, where they have felt welcome and safe. Fewer Moroccans have visitedIsrael, though those numbers will hopefully increase in the future.
Some may fear the side-lining of Palestinians and the undermining of peace and justice for them; however, mutual visits also have the potential to do the opposite. Morocco and Israel can serve not only as fascinating travel destinations, but also as an opportunity for Israelis (Jewish and Palestinian) and Moroccans to see themselves through a different lens.
Morocco and Israel can provide these opportunities – and much more – to each other.
Moroccans visiting Israel can learn about the predicaments of Palestinian citizens of the state and how they – along with many Jews – are struggling to address them. They can also reflect on marginalisation in the Moroccan context, and on the groups occupying those spaces inMorocco.
Israelis visiting Morocco can discover – and/or reconnect with – a long, rich heritage. Moroccans visiting Israel can learn about Israeli diversity, as well as the memories and identities of Moroccan Jews. This may highlight new perspectives on their own history and culture.
Millenia-old Jewish-Muslim relations in Morocco, while not perfect, offer many important positive precedents from which Israelis can learn.
Likewise, Moroccans will discover that despite the often-grim headlines and realities, there are illuminating examples of interfaith and intercommunal relations in Israel.
Whether travelling in groups or on their own, Israelis should engage with Moroccans from different walks of life, including groups that work on Jewish-Muslim relations, the preservation of heritage, and sustainable development which enhances intercommunal relations. Moroccans should likewise engage with diverse groups of Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel, including those working to build a more equitable and just shared society through promoting equal rights, sustainable development, gender equality, interfaith relations, and more.
Travelling responsibly is a win-win endeavour, benefiting both travellers and host communities. Responsible tourism should include visits not just to the “usual suspects”, but also to more marginalized communities that otherwise do not enjoy the limelight. Travellers and hosts could engage together in projects that benefit the community.
At least, travellers should listen to different voices in the countries and communities they visit, and share their own stories. Rather than simply visiting sites, responsible tourism entails engaging – at eye level – with hosts and, where possible, enhancing their lives and livelihood. Ultimately, this could also mean shining light on injustices and amplifying voices that seek to rectify them.
Neither Israelis nor Moroccans need to endorse or support the other country’s politics. Were this a precondition for travel, most of us would go nowhere. Travel is an opportunity to learn about the other, to dispel myths, to appreciate the complexity of others’ lives, and to take a fresh look at our own. Ideally, this is an impetus for positive change. Considering all this, Moroccans and Israelis have much to gain from visiting one another’s countries.