Morocco under influence: Israeli infiltration sparks debate

Human rights activists in Morocco are sounding the alarm over what they describe as a systematic penetration of Zionist interests into strategic sectors of the Cherifian kingdom, from agriculture to security and real estate. They call it a silent offensive, allegedly conducted with the palace's blessing.

Writer and Moroccan human rights activist Amine Bouadoul has detailed allegations of domination by at least five Israeli companies in key sectors of the Moroccan economy. According to his research, three of these companies operate in agriculture, with one reportedly controlling 30,000 hectares of fertile land. Another company specializes in agricultural technology, receiving significant privileges and exclusive consulting services. A third is involved in the fertilizer industry.

Water resources are a major point of tension. Bouadoul claims that water in Morocco is now allegedly under the control of Israeli companies, which exploit it for non-essential crops, potentially jeopardizing the water security of citizens. He suggests this could explain the water crisis affecting several Moroccan cities, even during periods of favorable rainfall. These claims emerge amid broader tensions over water management in Morocco, where the Ministry of Equipment and Water acknowledges structural water stress exacerbated by climate change, with documented potable water deficits in various regions since 2022.

Beyond agriculture, Bouadoul's analysis extends to health, energy, and security. He asserts the existence of hospitals in Morocco managed by companies originating from Israel, granting them direct influence over a vital sector. Contracts are also reportedly signed with an Israeli company for energy resource exploitation. However, the security dimension raises the most acute concerns. The author warns of the dangers of Moroccan-Israeli security coordination and the presence of Israeli officers on Moroccan military bases, which he views as transforming Morocco into a "rear base for the Zionist entity in the region."

These accusations are not isolated. Since the resumption of diplomatic relations between Rabat and Tel Aviv in December 2020 under the Abraham Accords, several Moroccan civil society organizations have regularly denounced the deepening security cooperation, particularly in intelligence and cyber domains.