October 2006 Archives

13 Nations Meet on Nuclear Containment - New York Times

Morocco has joined 12 other nations, including the United States, in signing an agreement to cooperate in keeping nuclear materials out of tthe hands of terrorists:

The initiative aims to provide guidelines for keeping track of radioactive materials, ensuring the safety of nuclear facilities, and combating illicit trafficking that could deliver nuclear materials into the hands of terrorists.

I am guessing that Morocco's presence on the list of nations signing the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism has as much to do with its recent concerns over domestic terrorism as with its specific concerns over nuclear proliferation. Nevertheless, it is encouraging to see Morocco taking a laudable stand on this issue. Whether there is any substance to the initiative — particularly in light of participants Russia, China, and the United States' differences over North Korea and Iran — remains to be seen.

One of the first things I did on my first arrival in Morocco was to climb Mount Toubkal, the second highest mountain in Africa. In some ways, this feat is less impressive than it sounds, since the ascent is for the most part little more than a strenuous walk. It is quite high, however. According to the New York Times, the people of Imlil, at the foot of the mountain, are now offering a few more amenities, proceeds from which go to finance improvements in the town. From the Times' description, it sounds like a nice balance between preserving the character of the countryside and generating tourist revenue for the people.

The Holocaust's Arab Heroes - washingtonpost.com

The Washington Post reports on Arab resistance to the Nazi occupation of North Africa and the role of Arab rescuers in saving Jews from the Nazis.

Arabs welcomed Jews into their homes, guarded Jews' valuables so Germans could not confiscate them, shared with Jews their meager rations and warned Jewish leaders of coming SS raids. The sultan of Morocco and the bey of Tunis provided moral support and, at times, practical help to Jewish subjects. In Vichy-controlled Algiers, mosque preachers gave Friday sermons forbidding believers from serving as conservators of confiscated Jewish property. In the words of Yaacov Zrivy, from a small town near Sfax, Tunisia, "The Arabs watched over the Jews."

Peaktalk - A MODERATE MUSLIM’S DESPAIR

A very pessimistic view of the plight of Moroccan immigrants in the Netherlands.

Turkish, Surinam, Moluccan and Somali communities do not produce as many radical and hateful youngsters compared to the Morrocans. Why that is? I have noticed that in many Moroccan families boys are treated harshly, without any love. They are being raised to survive. They need to grow up quickly, if necessary harshly. They see how their mother is abused. If their father walks into the door, they walk out. That is a feeding ground for aggression.

Link from Andrew Sullivan. If this is the case, I would be very curious to know the explanation why such a comparatively moderate and progressive country as Morocco would produce such a depth of bitterness among its emigrants.

THE VIEW FROM FEZ: The Jews of Morocco - a lesson in coexistence.

Legend has it that Moroccan Jews have been here since the days of King David. In the south of Morocco, three days journey from Sousse - there is a boulder on which is engraved -“Joab, son of Zeriah, drove the Philistines to this point.” Joab ben Zeriah was one of King David’s captains. And so it has been concluded that Moroccan Jews have been in this North African country since the day of King David.

The View from Fez discusses the troubled history of Jews in Morocco and latter day efforts to protect a much diminished community.

Morocco: A Suburb of Paris - Newsweek: International Editions - MSNBC.com

"Of course we love our own culture," says Leila, who lives in the cultural capital of Marrakech. "But ours is now a European way of life."

Newsweek has a superficial but generally favorable commentary on Moroccan modernization and liberalization. Although the article points out the disparity between the living standards of most Moroccans and the Europeans who are populating the new tourist playgrounds, it does not really analyze how the interaction between them is likely to play out.

Here and here.

A ‘Hippie Trail’ Stop Goes Mainstreamin Morocco - New York Times

The New York Times wonders whether Morocco will be "spoiled" by mass tourism.