Moroccan Union Rejects Educational Ties With Israel

A Moroccan education union rejected any educational and cultural normalization with Israel, amid plans by Rabat and Tel Aviv to implement joint education programs.

In a letter to Minister of National Education Said Amzazi, the National Federation of Education warned against "the inclusion of the Jewish heritage in the Moroccan curriculum".

The union denounced the move as an attempt to transform the educational system to accept normalization.

Last week, Amzazi told the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation that he offered his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Galant, a twinning agreement for student exchange.

The two ministers also agreed to mark the Mimouna festival, celebrated by Morocco's Jewish population, with the participation of Israeli and Moroccan students on April 4 and 5.

On Dec. 10, Israel and Morocco announced the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries after 20-year hiatus.

In 2000, Morocco closed its liaison office in Israel, and the Israeli office in Rabat, in response to the Israeli violent response to the second Palestinian intifada and suspension of peace talks with the Palestinians.

Last year, Morocco became the fourth Arab country to normalize relations with Israel this year after the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Sudan.

*Ibrahim Mukhtar from Ankara contributed to this report -