Four days after the Gaza war erupted, the European Union abruptly cancelled a €3 million funding call aimed at preserving Morocco's Jewish heritage, according to sources in Morocco cited by Israel Hayom. The call, launched in September 2023, had attracted community projects focused on safeguarding centuries-old cemeteries, cultural programs, and the shared Jewish-Muslim history. Applicants who had progressed through the initial stages were recently informed of the cancellation, Israeli media reported on Wednesday. The official rejection letter, obtained by Israel Hayom, offered no explanation for the decision. Moroccan sources emphasized that «the projects had no link to the Gaza war, Zionism or political events, but were solely focused on preserving Moroccan Jewish culture». However, those familiar with the situation claim that «the timing was not neutral. It followed the military confrontation and shifts in European positions on Israel and the Palestinians. The message is clear—Jewish is political, and political is unacceptable». Moroccan community leaders criticized the EU for conflating Jewish identity with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, describing the move as «historical ignorance and racism». «This punishes communities for a geopolitical reality they did not create and cannot control. It is not policy; it is projection at the expense of cultural preservation, truth and justice», the sources added.
