Lost Between Recognition and Rejection: Tunisia’s Relations with Israel

Tunisia’s relationship with its historic Jewish community and the Jewish state has been marked by sporadic progress and unfortunate setbacks. There has been a Jewish presence in Tunisia since before the Roman Empire; there remains one there today, and Tunisia is proud of this part of its history. Other Western-aligned moderate Muslim states like Egypt, Morocco, and the UAE have normalized relations with Israel. Others, like Saudi Arabia, have had longstanding not-so-secret relationships with Israel. Yet Tunisia lacks either, and is signaling that this will remain the case for the foreseeable future.

The Renewed Western Sahara Conflict and the Abraham Accords

The timing of the unanticipated provocation by the Polisario Front against Morocco could be related to the ongoing diplomatic initiative sponsored by the US for the establishment of full diplomatic relations between Morocco and Israel. Several foreign powers have an interest in disrupting the next stages of the Abraham Accords.

The Israel-UAE Peace Deal Highlights Morocco’s Diplomatic Eclipse

The Israel-UAE peace deal was an unpleasant surprise to the Moroccan diplomatic and intelligence community as it foiled the general expectation that Rabat would be the third regional power to hold the distinction of normalizing relations with Jerusalem. Reliance on past accomplishments in relationship-building, sentimental historical ties, and informal alliances with lobby groups are no longer sufficient if Morocco still wishes to play a leading role in this geopolitical chess game. Rabat can still come out ahead if it adopts an assertive strategic policy reorientation, even if it has lost the advantage of being the first to make a move.

What Morocco’s Break with Iran Means

Iran’s recent moves against Morocco’s national sovereignty reflect its intention to continue on its path towards global domination by destabilizing pro-Western countries. Tehran is shifting its attention towards Africa, which is less on the Western radar following the American withdrawal from the JCPOA.

The Moroccan Boycotts: A New Model for Protest?

Mounting anger and discontent is simmering across the Arab world much as it did in the run-up to the 2011 popular revolts that toppled four autocratic leaders. But this time around, the anger does not always explode in mass street protest,s as it recently did in Jordan. In Morocco, it is manifesting in the form of widespread boycotts.

Saudi-Moroccan Soccer Spat Symbolizes the New Arab Politics

The spat over Saudi Arabia’s refusal to support a Moroccan bid for hosting rights of the 2026 World Cup tells the tale of the rise of individual country nationalism at the expense of Arab solidarity, Saudi determination to safeguard its alliance with the US at any cost, and creeping Saudi and UAE efforts to strong-arm countries into supporting their 11-month-old diplomatic and economic boycott of Qatar.