AMBASSADOR ZALMAN SHOVAL MEMORIAL IN HONOR OF KIND HASSAN OF MOROCCO NOVEMBER 1, 1999

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Not long ago, I spoke at a similar event, at Adas Israel, in memory of the late King Hussein of Jordan. Now, less than a year later, it is my sad duty to participate in an event in memory of Morocco’s late King Hassan. Sad – but not unhopeful – for in both those cases: we can say how great and lasting their contribution to peace has been.

But first, allow me to thank the American Jewish Committee and the Magen David Sephardic Congregation and the Sephardi Community of Greater Washington for inviting me.

As you know, there is an ongoing debate among political scientists and historians, especially Marxist historians, about whether great people shape events – or if it is social and economic forces which shape history. I am firmly on the side of the first camp, but be this as it may, who can doubt the late King Hassan’s immensely important personal part in advancing peace between the Arab world and Israel – right from the beginning, when he hosted – and the word “hosting” does not really give him his due – because his involvement was greater – perhaps I should say, when he chaired the secret meeting between the late Moshe Dayan and Egypt’s Vice President Touhamy – a meeting which set the course for President Sadat’s visit to Jerusalem, for Camp David and for the ensuing Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty.

Actually, there had been contacts between the King and successive Israeli governments even before – but there was nothing as historically and fundamentally important as that meeting in the King’s Palace – taking place far from the public eye, fortunately – that was before the day when “secret diplomacy” became a dirty word; now diplomats can consider themselves fortunate if secrets are held longer than 48 hours…

I myself had the privilege of meeting King Hassan during the Casablanca Economic Conference in 1994. The very fact that this conference was held in Morocco was symbolic – for it was intended to signal a new beginning for the Middle East and North Africa. Even though that conference did not, perhaps, fulfill all its promises – for reasons which had, of course, nothing to do with Morocco – quite the contrary – it must nevertheless, in retrospect, be seen as an important signpost on the road to peace, and not just formal peace, but real peace, the sort of peace which must engage both the minds and hearts of people and which will potentially contribute to the economic welfare of all the peoples in the region and especially of Israel’s Arab neighbors.

Throughout the ages, there have been close links between Morocco and its Jewish community; now, with most of that community being one of the pillars of the reborn Jewish homeland, Israel, that close relationship has not only survived, but has become even stronger. Though the late King and respective Israeli governments did not always see eye to eye on each and every aspect of the peace process, the relationship has stood the test of time – because of the close links – which must now become even closer. So, when I said that this is not only a time of mourning but also one of hope, this is so because the new King, King Muhammed VI has declared – and shown – that he will continue the course laid down by his father – for the benefit of both peoples – and peace in general.

Ladies and Gentlemen: on behalf of the State of Israel and the Jewish people as a whole, I want to express to the Kingdom of Morocco, represented here by His Excellency Muhammed Ghozlani, Charge d’ Affaire at the Moroccan Embassy, our profound sentiments on this important and memorable occasion.

Thank you.

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