MOROCCANS SEE HOPE IN OBAMA AND HIS MIDEAST PEACE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RABAT 000105

SIPDIS

STATE FOR R, NEA/PD, NEA/MAG AND NEA/IPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAO PINR MO
SUBJECT: MOROCCANS SEE HOPE IN OBAMA AND HIS MIDEAST PEACE
EFFORTS

REF: RABAT 0098

Classified By: CDA Robert P. Jackson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: Moroccans are broadly upbeat about the new
administration. An MFA official said her government expected
to engage closely with the administration, offering that
Morocco could play a role in the Israeli-Palestinian peace
process. Popular response to President Obama's inauguration
and Al-Arabiya interview has been very positive, echoing the
tone in the media (reftel). Interlocutors praised the quick
deployment of Senator Mitchell and the President's emphasis
on respect and engagement with Muslims. Representatives of
political parties and a range of everyday contacts were
hopeful, a sentiment somewhat attenuated by continuing
concerns over Gaza. Some Islamist-oriented politicians were
also positive, but several claimed a "wait and see approach."
Youth are optimistic and knowledgeable about Obama. One
contact told us that the administration's approach "could
really hurt radicals' influence among young people." End
summary.

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Rabat Celebrates Inauguration
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2. (UN) Reflecting the general interest in the U.S.
presidential transition and heightened interest in President
Obama, a large crowd including Prime Minister Abbas El
Fassi's right hand man, Minister-Delegate for Economic and
General Affairs Nizar Baraka, a Vice-President of Parliament,
representatives from the Prime Minister's office, our key
interlocutor on the Millennium Challenge Compact, and the
Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture attended an
celebration of American democracy on Inauguration Day hosted
by the USAID Mission Director. The resident directors of the
World Bank and United Nations were also in attendance.
Viewing President Obama take the oath of office and a
bi-partisan video showing previous president,s inaugural
speeches, guests echoed the widespread Moroccan sentiment
that the new administration will find a receptive audience
for outreach in Morocco and the broader Middle East.

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Rabat Eager to Engage New Administration
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3. (C) MFA North America Division Chief Wassane Zailachi
praised the tone set by President Obama and his appointment
of Senator Mitchell, adding that Morocco would be happy to
play a role in the peace process, if needed. "We are well
known for doing this discreetly," she stated. She noted that
the President had mentioned Morocco as one of the countries
he might visit and asked about his travel plans. (Comment:
We understand that Moroccans in the U.S., who often maintain
some contact with government representatives, have been
campaigning for President Obama to choose Morocco to deliver
a much anticipated speech he indicated he would make early in
his administration from a Muslim country. For several years,
Zailachi, in effect our desk officer, has been our most
helpful practical contact at the MFA. End comment.)


4. (SBU) Echoing these remarks, MFA Humanitarian and Social
Division Chief Abdelmounaim El Farouq said the President's
decision to give his first international interview to a
Muslim audience and his rapid appointment of Senator Mitchell
as an envoy to the Middle East illustrate his commitment to
improving relations with the Muslim world. He praised
Mitchell's experience and reputation for being even-handed.

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Politicians Excited, But Islamists "Wait and See"
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5. (SBU) Representatives of two of Morocco's main political
parties, Istiqlal and the National Rally of Independents
(RNI),told us they appreciated the administration's emphasis
on "respectfulness over divisiveness, listening over
dictating, and engagement over militarism." Many Moroccans
perceive the President to be honest and serious but are
skeptical that U.S. policy toward the Middle East will
change. Contacts in the Islamist-oriented Party of Justice
and Development (PJD) have been upbeat, but their original
enthusiasm has been dampened by the fighting in Gaza. Hassan
Bennajeh, a spokesman for the semi-legal Islamist-inspired
Justice and Good Works Organization (JCO),explained that he
was taking a "wait and see" attitude to the Obama
administration, because, on issues like Gaza and Israel, the

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U.S. travels a well worn path that transcends political
parties or individual presidents.

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Obama is Human
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6. (SBU) Applauding President Obama for extending a hand of
friendship to the Muslim world, Egyptian Economic Counselor
Tarek Dahroug argued that Muslim countries must "meet Obama
halfway" and stop thinking of him as a messiah who will solve
their problems. "Obama has extended his hand, now it is time
for us to take it by proposing our own solutions," he said.
He noted that expectations for the new President among
Moroccans and in Arab capitals are unrealistically high and
quipped, "They think he looks like us, so he must think like
us." He praised Rabat for actively reaching out to the new
administration, something he attributed to the Berber
strategy of leaving all avenues open, and criticized other
Muslim countries for following the "traditional Arab" method
of waiting passively for him to do more.

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Obama Could Undercut Radicals' Influence on Youth
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7. (SBU) Dr. Abdallah Saaf, Director of the Center for
Social Science Research and Studies, i.e., a prominent Rabat
"think tank," enumerated a list of President Obama's positive
gestures since Inauguration Day, including "using his middle
name, Hussein, at the swearing-in," calling Palestinian
Authority Leader Abbas, appointing Senator Mitchell, giving
the Al-Arabiya interview, and promising to make an address
from a Muslim capital. He noted that while he and his
colleagues are closely and optimistically tracking these
developments, many Moroccans remain in a somewhat skeptical
"wait and see" mode. Saaf noted that Moroccan youth are
attracted to Obama by the same attributes that appeal to
young Americans, and are poised to respond positively. He
reflected that, if events continue moving in a positive
direction, "this could really hurt the radicals' influence."


8. (UN) During a trip to the somewhat remote southeastern
towns of Ouarzazate and Zagora, Public Affairs Office staff
reported high levels of both knowledge and enthusiasm about
Obama among Moroccan youth. A class of secondary school
English students knew that Obama was the first
African-American U.S. President, that he attended a very good
university (Oxford, they thought),and knew details of his
family. Teenagers selling dates by the side of the road in a
very small town near Zagora, once they realized they were
talking to an American, brought up Obama and gave him a big
thumbs up. One boy said, "Obama has a good head and a good
heart, and he is able to change mentalities." They said they
watch him every day on TV.


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Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
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Jackson