Adam Smith, ISL(RCIT in Israel/Occupied Palestine), 06.12.2021
The Zionist state is continuing its reactionary “normalization” offensive. In Libya, both leading candidates(or their proxies) in the coming election have ties to Israel. General Haftar’s son has offered “recognition agreement to Israel in exchange for support after December elections… “Though it is unknown who he met while on the ground in Israel, his father Khalifa Haftar has in the past reportedly met with members of Israeli intelligence…
Haftar has promised that he would launch a recognition process akin to that carried out by the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco last year, in exchange for “military and diplomatic assistance” from Israel…..
A former CIA asset, Haftar returned to Libya following the country’s 2011 uprising and served in the internationally recognised government until 2014 – when the country’s many fractures became more deeply entrenched with the outbreak of the second civil war since the fall of former ruler Muammar Gaddafi….
A report[1] by Israel Hayom said that both candidates had hired an Israeli consulting firm ahead of the poll, at a cost of tens of millions of dollars.” [2]
‘Israeli Intelligence Ministry officials secretly met with Saddam Haftar, the son of the de-facto leader of Libya General Khalifa Haftar, according to a report in the Washington Free Beacon.
While the Israeli embassy refused to comment to the report, the Free Beacon quoted a source familiar with the meeting saying that Haftar and the Israeli officials discussed “the situation in the region” and “his aspiration for stability of his country,” claiming that the “Israelis are supporting him.” [3]
Gaddafi’s son is no better:
“Israeli media said Monday Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the son of former Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi, oversaw relations between his father’s regime and Israel.
Haaretz newspaper said while his father was a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause and factions, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi had publicly met with Israelis in favor of his father’s regime.
The daily said although there were no official ties between the two countries, the Gaddafi regime and Israel were in contact over “diplomatic and humanitarian issues.”” [4]
“Complicating his presidential ambitions, Gadhafi was tried in absentia in 2015 by a Tripoli court at which he appeared via video from Zintan, and which sentenced him to death for war crimes including killing protesters during the 2011 revolt.
He would likely face arrest or other dangers if he appeared publicly in the capital Tripoli. He is also wanted by the International Criminal Court.
Israel has always had an interest in Libya because of its geostrategic location in the Mediterranean and its proximity to the Egyptian border, and also because of the large community of Libyan Jews in Israel and their influence on Libyan Jews who emigrated to Italy.” [5]
In Morocco, a couple days after the visit by the Israeli Foreign Minister, Algeria claims it was hacked by NSO software. Gantz, the defense minister, visited Morocco last month.
“Morocco and Israel concluded on Wednesday an “unprecedented” security agreement during a historic visit to Rabat by Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz, amid tensions between the Cherifian kingdom and its neighbor Algeria.
The framework agreement was signed by Mr. Gantz and the Minister Delegate in charge of the Moroccan National Defense Administration, Abdellatif Loudiyi.
It formally launches the security cooperation “in all its aspects” between the two countries, barely a year after the normalization of their relations, facing “threats and challenges in the region.
This memorandum of understanding (MoU) covers “exchanges of experience and expertise, technology transfer, training and cooperation in the field of defense industry,” said the Moroccan side, which also reported a cooperation agreement on “cyber security.
The agreement — the first of its kind with an Arab country, according to the Israeli side — will facilitate the acquisition by Morocco of technologies from Israel’s military industry.
“This is a very important thing that … will promote Israeli exports so far,” Gantz said.” [6]
In addition, an economic cooperation agreement was signed.
“Last month, Israel’s Ratio Petroleum announced an agreement with Rabat on “exploration operations” off Dakhla in Western Sahara.
Israel’s defence ministry oversees all security exports, with the Jewish state offering state-of-art products ranging from attack drones to the vaunted Iron Dome missile defence system.
One Israeli product, the NSO’s Pegasus spyware, has already made its way to Morocco, according to Amnesty International and Paris-based organisation Forbidden Stories.
A spokeswoman for Gantz would not comment on NSO or other possible defence technologies set to be discussed during the visit.
Pegasus software has also reportedly been discovered on the phones of Palestinian officials.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to mobilise civil society, Islamists and the far-left in Morocco, with a call for a November 29 demonstration against “creeping normalisation with Israel” and in support of the Palestinians.” [7]
“The senior defense official denied reports in Israeli media that the two countries had already signed such arms sales. While Morocco has expressed interest in a number of Israeli systems — notably the Barak 8 missile defense system, drones from the Israeli Aerospace Industry, Elbit radar systems and more — those deals are only in their early stages and have not received the requisite authorizations.” [8]
“Algeria has decided to break diplomatic relations with Morocco starting today,” Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra said at a news conference, in which he read a statement from the president. The announcement comes nearly a week after President Abdelmadjid Tebboune told a meeting of Algeria’s High Security Council that “incessant hostile acts perpetrated by Morocco have meant the need for a revision in relations between the two countries and the intensification of security checks” at the western borders with Morocco, the official APS news agency reported.
He also denounced “massive and systematic acts of espionage” by Morocco, a reference to allegations that the kingdom’s security services used the Pegasus spyware developed by the Israeli NSO Group against its officials and citizenry, APS said. Morocco adamantly denies such claims.” [9]
The fact that those reactionary regimes are willing to make their ties with Israel more open is a sign that they are becoming even more reactionary and less afraid of the people’s response.
Down with General Haftar!
Down with imperialist meddling in Libya!
Down with the Moroccan King!
Support BDS! For a Red and Free Palestine from the river to the sea!
For a socialist confederation of the Middle East!
Endnotes:
[1] https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/10/25/israeli-pr-firm-hired-by-both-presidential-hopefuls-in-libya/
[2] https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/libya-haftar-son-visits-israel
[3] https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/israeli-intelligence-met-with-general-haftars-son-in-libya-report-664121
[4] https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/gaddafis-son-oversaw-libya-s-relations-with-israel-israeli-media/2421259
[5] https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/gadhafi-s-son-who-led-father-s-covert-israel-ties-joins-libya-s-presidential-race-1.10383251
[6] https://www.africanews.com/2021/11/24/morocco-pro-palestinian-group-protests-israeli-defence-minister-s-visit-to-rabat
[7] https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20211123-israel-formalising-defence-ties-with-morocco-on-minister-s-visit
[8] https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-looking-to-deepen-ties-with-morocco-with-plans-for-arms-sales-joint-drills/
[9] https://www.timesofisrael.com/algeria-cuts-ties-with-hostile-morocco-partly-blaming-israel-rapprochement/