Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06CASABLANCA1330
2006-12-22 10:32:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Casablanca
Cable title:  

SPECIAL ENVOY RICKMAN MEETS WITH JEWISH COMMUNITY LEADERS IN

Tags:  PGOV PHUM PINR PREL MO 
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RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT 7796
RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS 1967
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CASABLANCA 001330 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/07/2015
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR PREL MO
SUBJECT: SPECIAL ENVOY RICKMAN MEETS WITH JEWISH COMMUNITY LEADERS IN
CASABLANCA


Classified By: Principal Officer Douglas C. Greene for Reasons 1.4
(b),(d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CASABLANCA 001330

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/07/2015
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR PREL MO
SUBJECT: SPECIAL ENVOY RICKMAN MEETS WITH JEWISH COMMUNITY LEADERS IN
CASABLANCA


Classified By: Principal Officer Douglas C. Greene for Reasons 1.4
(b),(d).


1. (C) Summary: During a recent visit to Casablanca, the
Department's Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, Gregg
Rickman, met with leading members of Morocco's Jewish community to
discuss various topics of concern. Candid conversations highlighted
the community's anxiety over possible political gains by the
Islamists in the 2007 elections. In addition, community leaders
voiced their disapproval of perceived U.S. support for the Justice
and Charity Organization (JCO) and the Party of Justice and
Development (PJD). Our interlocutors were highly critical of both
the U.S.' "invitation" to JCO's Nadia Yasine and the IRI poll,
carried out earlier this year, predicting a potentially strong
showing for the PJD in the elections. When the conversation turned
to Jewish-Muslim relations, Rickman proposed using Morocco as an
interfaith model for the greater Middle East. Community leaders
expressed their discomfort with the initiative, which might raise
their profile, and indicated we should leave well enough alone and
not "rock the boat." End Summary.

--------------
The Islamists are Coming
--------------


2. (C) During a recent visit to Morocco's financial and business
capital, Gregg Rickman, Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat
Anti-Semitism, made the most out of his limited time by meeting with
the leading members of the country's Jewish community to discuss
their concerns. During the five-hour stop Rickman visited the city's
Jewish Museum, met with the country's Chief Rabi, and dined with
three community leaders. Chief among the community's concerns was
the anxiety felt by many leaders of the community regarding the
potential gains of the Islamists and the upcoming elections.
According to Simon Levy, curator of the only Jewish museum in the
Arab world, "We (Jews) have real enemies in Morocco" relating his
concern over a perceived threat from the Islamists.


3. (C) According to Serge Berdugo, leader of Morocco's Jewish

community and the King's Ambassador-at-large, the PJD's moderate
pitch is merely a facade. He dismissed the efforts made by the group
to reach out to his community after the May 13 bombings, which struck
four Jewish targets, as a hollow publicity stunt. He insinuated that
the PJD has connections to other less "reasonable" Islamist
organizations and speculated that the party may have a hidden agenda.
Berdugo cautioned that if the PJD gain power there will be problems
for the Jews and others as well, indicating moderate Muslims might
face difficulties. According to Berdugo "An unstable Morocco would
be the worst in the whole Middle East. You will be surprised."


4. (C) The representatives of the community, lead by Berdugo, went
on to criticize the U.S.' "invitation" to Nadia Yasine, daughter of
JCO leader Sheikh Abdesalam Yasine, to visit the U.S. We pointed out
that Yasine's invitation came from private universities and
organizations and was not sponsored by the USG. The leaders retorted
that simply issuing a visa and allowing her to visit the U.S. gave
the appearance of support by the USG and lent credibility to her
extremist organization, legitimizing their efforts and "erasing what
they are."


5. (C) As we have heard from other Moroccan contacts, the community
representatives were also unhappy with IRI's polling results and
accused the U.S. of supporting the PJD by "predicting" a majority of
Moroccans would vote for the party in the 2007 elections. Berdugo
dismissed our efforts to clarify the often-misunderstood results
commenting that what matters is people's perception of the poll, not
the details or the process.


6. (C) Corruption and the absolute power of the king were also
topics addressed throughout the visit. Berdugo and Levy saw the
recent crackdown on corruption within political parties as a possible
threat to the country's immediate stability. According to the
community leaders, the crackdown only serves to call attention to the
fact that the Islamist Party is the only "honest" party giving more
power to the Islamists and threatening Morocco's democracy movement.
Berdugo opined that, "Absolute power of the King is the only way to
democracy and enforced democracy is the only way for Morocco."


7. (C) Berdugo is clearly hedging his bets in the face of the rising
popularity of the PJD. Having expressed strong criticism earlier
about PJD motives and goals, he expressed confidence that, as long as
the King is in control, even an Islamist victory would not upset the
system. "I talk to them everyday" Berdugo said, explaining that he
believes that the PJD understand that they need to operate within

CASABLANCA 00001330 002.2 OF 002


certain parameter set by the palace.

--------------
Morocco as Model
--------------


8. (C) Turning to Morocco's reputation for religious tolerance,
Rickman proposed holding Morocco up as a model for the Arab world.
With its history of acceptance of the Jewish community, Rickman
stated, Morocco's arrangement could serve as a framework for other
countries. While all agreed that the system works in Morocco, the
community leaders expressed anxiety at the prospect of using the
country as a model. It was evident that while the Jewish community
is comfortable with their situation they are equally uncomfortable
with the idea of disturbing the status quo. Clearly, this community
realizes it is shrinking due to natural attrition, and acknowledges
many of its youth are leaving to seek educational and economic
opportunities abroad. There is natural concern that close scrutiny
and increased exposure might reveal or create a problem, which could
accelerate that process.


9. (C) In addressing the possibility of USG assistance for projects
within the community, the leaders politely rejected the idea of
outside efforts to help with the community's campaign to include the
Moroccan-Jewish history in Moroccan textbooks. Additionally, they
flatly refused even to consider a suggestion about building monuments
memorializing wartime camps in Morocco, arguably in order to maintain
their less than prominent profile.

--------------
Comment
--------------


10. (C) Comment: The Moroccan Jewish community was very eager to
meet with the Special Envoy while he was in Casablanca. Moreover,
they were decidedly candid in their comments about the community's
situation in the country and their feelings towards the Islamists,
perceived U.S. policy, and related issues. They clearly see the
protection of the King as necessary to their current and future
security and stability. Too much democracy, too quickly, makes them
uncomfortable. The group's concerns regarding the growing popularity
of Islamists throughout the country are shared by Casablanca's
business community, intellectuals, and reformists. End Comment

Greene