Opponents of normalization in Morocco are calling for the cancellation of the series «Nass El Mellah» on the 2M channel due to the involvement of an Israeli actress of Moroccan origin, known for her «support for the Israeli army». The Moroccan Front in Support of Palestine and Against Normalization held a sit-in outside 2M's local offices in Rabat on Tuesday. The group protested the casting of Eva Kadosh in the Moroccan series «Nass El Mellah», aired on the public TV channel. On her social media accounts, the Israeli actress has shared posts in support of the Israeli occupation's war against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023. Demonstrators questioned the decision to cast Kadosh, calling for a boycott of the show. They also reaffirmed their solidarity with the Palestinian and Lebanese people, demanding an end to Israeli offensives that have claimed tens of thousands of lives in both countries. Directed by Jamila Elbarji Benaissa, the 15-episode series has been broadcast every Thursday since September 28. Despite her role in the show, Kadosh is not an actress by profession. Her social media largely features food recipes, which she presents as Israeli. However, following public backlash, she has deleted all her posts supporting the war in Gaza. Set in the mellah of Essaouira's medina, the series centers on Muslim and Jewish families. Kadosh plays Messaouda, a beloved restaurant owner awaiting the return of her daughter Jeanine from Canada. Determined to preserve their family home from land speculators, they work together to restore its authentic character. Cultural and artistic normalization criticized Aziz Hennaoui, Secretary General of the Moroccan Observatory Against Normalization, told Yabiladi that the controversy surrounding Kadosh's casting stems from broader normalization efforts between Israel and Morocco over the past four years. «Even before Eva Kadosh appeared in the series, we knew her as a supporter of the Zionist army and a right-wing woman who backs the Israeli Chief of Staff in the Zionist war», Hennaoui told Yabiladi. He also referenced «photos and videos» of Kadosh with Israeli Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi and Mossad officer Sam Benchetrit. «[Eva Kadosh] claims to be a Moroccan resident in Marrakech, but this is false. She only received her identity card in the spring of 2022 from the so-called Moroccan Liaison Office in Tel Aviv, as part of the Moroccanization of terrorist settlers in occupied Palestine», Hennaoui asserted. According to Hennaoui, the series aims to «convey the idea that the Zionist component is the Jewish component in Morocco», and that the kingdom has «a Moroccan community in Israel made up of Jews of Moroccan origin». He countered this, stating, «In reality, this is a terrorist gathering that has been committing massacres for 76 years». In his remarks to Yabiladi, Hennaoui argued that «this contradicts Morocco's official stance, which aligns with the presidency of the Al-Quds Committee and the solidarity of the Moroccan people with Palestine».
