RABAT, Morocco — Morocco is becoming more involved in the Palestinian cause of late, staging a variety of events throughout May with the participation of Palestinian political parties and Moroccan organizations and institutions.

On May 5, the Moroccan National Working Group for Palestine organized a political seminar in Rabat that brought together representatives of various Palestinian political parties, including Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri, Fatah Central Committee member Abbas Zaki, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) member Maher al-Tahir and Munir Shafiq, secretary-general of the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad. The seminar focused on developments related to the plight of the Palestinians, most notably the faltering Palestinian reconciliation process and the controversial May 14 move of the US Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.

Moroccan Minister of Human Rights Mustapha Ramid participated in the seminar, in addition to Abdul Rahim al-Sheikhi, the head of the Moroccan Unification and Reform Movement, leftist leader Mohamed Bensaid Ait Idder, former Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane and Nabil Benabdallah, secretary-general of the Party of Progress and Socialism.

“This is the most appropriate opportunity for Palestinian factions to meet in Morocco and overcome their differences,” Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad spokesman Ziad al-Aloul, who attended the Rabat seminar, told Al-Monitor. “Morocco has offered the largest Arab arena for Palestinian parties from all political affiliations to come together and strengthen their relationship with official Moroccan institutions and civil society organizations.”