US, Moroccan NGO sign deal to fight all forms of antisemitism

• Author: BENJAMIN WEINTHAL
• Date: 17 January 2021
• Published date: 17 January 2021

"Morocco's Jewish community dates back to antiquity," Ellie Cohanim, the State Department's deputy special envoy to combat antisemitism, told The Jerusalem Post.

"With thanks to the leadership of King Mohammed VI, we are seeing Judeo-Moroccan heritage being taught in schools, we have witnessed a $1.5 million center dedicated to Jewish culture built in Essaouira, and now with the signing of our memorandum of understanding agreement comes a dedication not only to honor the Jewish past in Morocco but to create a future of harmony and tolerance for all generations to come," she said.

Cohanim, who is known as a high-energy diplomat, was born in Tehran and was forced to flee repression after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. She has played a role in a string of agreements with Arab countries to fight antisemitism and advance Jewish-Muslim relations.

Last October, after Bahrain normalized ties with Israel, a Bahraini institute signed an agreement with the US State Department to fight antisemitism, anti-Zionism and the delegitimization of the Jewish state.

"This new partnership is both timely and welcome as it extends the government of Morocco's firm commitment to combating antisemitism, Islamophobia and all forms of hatred to the civil society sector, aptly represented here by Association Mimouna of Morocco," said Princess Lalla Joumala, Morocco's ambassador to the US.

"The MOU also reinforces the deep and longstanding partnership between our two countries in the fight against all forms of intolerance and the promotion of peace and mutual coexistence," she said. "It is an unwavering engagement spearheaded by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, who leads by example and upholds the proud heritage of tolerance perpetuated by his forefathers."

The MOU, which was reviewed by the Post, says Mimouna and the State Department agree to combat "all forms of antisemitism, including anti-Zionism and the delegitimization of the state of Israel."

In December, Israel and Morocco agreed to normalize diplomatic relations. Mimouna Association is an organization of young Moroccan Muslim leaders that seeks to strengthen ties between Jews and Muslims. It also works to preserve Jewish heritage in the Muslim-majority North African country.

The "Association Mimouna's extraordinary journey from a campus club to today's MOU signing ceremony with the US Department...