Ben-Chétrit, president of the World Federation of Moroccan Judaism: "Israel has a moral duty to recognise Morocco's sovereignty over its Sahara"

"It is Israel's duty to recognise Morocco's sovereignty over its Sahara," declared Sam Ben-Chétrit, president of the World Federation of Moroccan Judaism. Born in Talsint, a rural commune in the province of Figuig, in 1938, Ben-Chétrit describes himself as a proud Moroccan patriot. He has dedicated his life to promoting Moroccan culture and values around the world, as his federation has branches in Europe, Canada and the United States. Although he now lives in Israel, he says he is first and foremost a Moroccan citizen. Indeed, his love for Morocco is expressed in every word he utters. He likes to say that one of the federation's goals is to pass on to new generations of Moroccans abroad the pride of the glorious Green March, which is a brilliant illustration of the political genius of the late HM Hassan II. 

Ben-Chétrit, who is also chairman of the 'National Committee for the Memory of the late HM Hassan II', which he founded with former Israeli President Shimon Peres, is moved every time he recalls his ten meetings in Rabat with the late HM Hassan II. It was during one of these meetings that Ben-Chétrit said he was ready to go to Morocco with "40 Jewish officers of Moroccan origin" to defend the Kingdom's sovereignty over the Moroccan Sahara. 

"Even years later, I am still fighting for the international community to recognise the territorial integrity of the Kingdom", Ben-Chétrit declared. Moreover, according to the president of the World Federation of Moroccan Judaism, Israel has a "moral duty" not only to recognise, but also to promote in all international fora Morocco's sovereignty over its historic territories. "Morocco is synonymous with tolerance, peace, dialogue and cohabitation between different cultures and religions. There is genuine religious freedom in Morocco. We must remember that in Europe, where the Enlightenment was born, Jews were persecuted, while Morocco protected them. Moroccan Jews and Jews all over the world should be grateful to the Kingdom of Morocco and its sovereigns, who throughout their history have always refused to make distinctions between their subjects," reiterated Ben-Chétrit, in his office where the Moroccan flag flies proudly. 

Anna Mahjar-Barducci 

Moroccan-Italian researcher and writer.