Our readers are aware that Zionist leaflets were distributed lately in various Moroccan cities, inviting Moroccan Jews to immigrate to Israel and claiming that Muslims persecute them. This operation is part of the ongoing conspiracy that Zionist elements have been carrying out amongst Jewish citizens both in Morocco or in other countries. Zionists were active in provoking a state of angst and discontent amongst Moroccan Jews.
We received the following statement from a group of Jewish citizens in which they denounce this maneuver and express their loyalty to their Moroccanness. This is the first time in which such a straightforward, written, public statement from a group of Jewish citizens is recorded and explicitly indicts the Zionist activities in Morocco. This statement is utterly different from the habitual ambiguous and tortuous expressions that usually emanated from certain parties. We consider this statement a positive contribution to the demystification of the Zionist maneuver.
Tahrir, February 17, 1961
A Zionist-accented and anti-Moroccan leaflet was distributed in many Moroccan cities. The purpose of this provocation is to intensify the angst resulting from the activity of the secret Zionist organizations; an anxiety that has been recently fed by the racist campaign undertaken by some newspapers like al-Fajr and al-‘Ummāl as well as the unfair treatment reserved by the police for some Moroccan Jews.
If conscientious nationalists do not endeavor to dismantle this vicious circle, where distrust is faced with distrust, and if denunciatory voices on both sides are not raised to get out of this clash in which Zionism and anti-Semitism give birth to each other, our nation may end up in a situation that affects its vital interests.
Thus, we undersigned, Moroccan Jews, are extremely aware that we serve our nation’s best interests, which are our interests together, because we do not separate them from the genuine interests of the Jewish community in Morocco. We unequivocally and publicly condemn Zionist propaganda as a tool in the hands of colonialism and as a weapon for segregation used against all the Moroccan people. We protest against the activities of Zionists who exploit the feelings and the longing of Jewish Moroccans for a dignified, happy, and safe life to push them to leave emigrate and leave their country.
We, Muslims and Jews, must unite to complete our national independence and create the conditions for a comfortable life that guarantees democracy, welfare, and safety for everyone.
Since the defense of our country against any acts of defamation and calumny is our first concern, we demystify the international campaign that is waged by sycophantic, pharisaic colonizers against Morocco to create an atmosphere of discrimination in order to tarnish the reputation of our country and separate the Jewish community from the rest of the Moroccan people.
Our position does not emanate from mere compliance or courtesy to appease anyone, but rather stems from the feelings of loyal patriots who recognize Morocco as their sole homeland and have consistently made these activities and feelings compatible even before the independence of Morocco.
For this reason, we also believe that it is equally our duty to expose with the same vigor any manifestations of anti-Jewishness. We declare that we will defend, within the scope of our loyal patriotic positions, our national rights and liberties against any discrimination, with unflinching confidence that Morocco is our homeland that nobody is capable of dislocating us from.
Abraham Serfaty, mineral engineer/ Youssef Levy, Ministry of Public Function/ Roger Cohen, National Bank for Economic Development/ El Alouf, doctor, Khemisset/ Daoud Cohen, doctor, Rabat/ Youssef Ben Dillak, Khouribga/ Samuel Ben Harouch, Cherifian Phosphates Office/ Miss. Evelyne Serfaty, writer, Casablanca/ Ralph Ben Harouch, lawyer, Casablanca/ René Wahna, Attaché at the Public Prosecution Administration, Casablanca/ Yehuda Azuelos, Foreign Financial Institution, Rabat/ Léon Al Maalem, inspector in the Ministry of Finances, Rabat/ Simon Levy, teacher, Casablanca/ Amran El Maleh, teacher, Casablanca/ Isaac Levy, teacher, Casablanca/ Kabbay Elyahou, school principal, Casablanca/ Samuel Zrihen, teacher, Casablanca/ Heget Rouimy, teacher, Casablanca/ Albert Ouaknine, Water and Electricity Bureau, Casablanca/ Amran Attar, engineer, Casablanca/ Meyer Albou, inspector in Telecommunications, Casablanca/ Samuel Amar, engineer, Casablanca/ Fahima Allen, engineer, Casablanca/ Jacques Essabagh, engineer, Casablanca.
Translated from Arabic by Aomar Boum