Nasser Bourita’s “Bag of Rice”: A Scathing Slap to Hollow Diplomacy
“Those who trade in slogans and claim to support the Palestinian people without offering them even a bag of rice.”
This statement by Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, made on May 20, 2025, in Rabat during the meeting of the Global Alliance for the Two-State Solution, struck like a whip in the overly cushioned corridors of Arab diplomacy. A succinct phrase with powerful symbolic weight. The “bag of rice” becomes here a symbol exposing a systemic political hypocrisy: regimes that wrap themselves in the banner of the Palestinian cause, while their commitments boil down to empty, verbose posturing.
The first regime targeted is not named. But one doesn’t need to be a genius to guess. You know who I mean…
When Words Replace Action
This warning did not fall on deaf ears. It targets, without naming, the champions of militant rhetoric who hide behind hollow slogans to mask their impotence or duplicity. Algeria is a perfect example. A regime of loud words and raised fists, Algiers has, for decades, repeated empty incantations in support of Palestine while avoiding any significant, concrete, or lasting contribution.
At every summit, at every podium, the speech is the same: emphatic, militant, dogmatic. At the last Arab League meeting in Algiers, Abdelmadjid Tebboune took a prophetic tone: “The Palestine file? Leave it to me, I’ll handle it.” A lyrical outburst that, when confronted with facts, rings as hollow as a drum. What structuring projects has Algeria initiated in Palestinian territories? What tangible aid has it provided? Nothing, or close to it. Algerian solidarity stops at the microphone. It does not cross the Mediterranean nor reach the corridors of international organizations where real diplomatic and humanitarian leverage is decided.
Pragmatism Versus Frozen Ideology
In contrast to this sterile gesturing, Morocco moves forward steadily with a results-oriented and realistic diplomatic approach. Its co-presidency of the Global Alliance for the Two-State Solution, alongside the Netherlands, reflects a desire to transcend binary postures and build bridges—even in the most tense contexts. By reconciling normalization with Israel and consistent support for Palestine, Rabat proves it’s possible to escape the childish dualism into which some willingly trap themselves.
While others prefer to rant, Morocco acts: direct humanitarian aid, scholarships, health and education projects in the West Bank and Gaza, coordination with UN agencies. Far from showy speeches, the Kingdom has opted for substantive diplomacy, faithful to its royal tradition of balance, moderation, and commitment.
Real Diplomacy Versus Rhetorical Diplomacy
The emergence of new geopolitical dynamics in the Arab world demands a redefinition of diplomatic strategies. In this new landscape, performative diplomacy—with loud speeches and rigid ideologies—has no place. It is now concrete initiatives, effective mediation, and bold alliances that shape reality.
Bourita’s statement, despite its apparent simplicity, delivers a sharp critique: it exposes the inauthenticity of regimes that loudly claim the Palestinian cause while using it for political bargaining. It is a call for decency and consistency in an Arab world where verbal one-upmanship feeds neither people nor hopes for peace.
Conclusion: Truth on the Ground
As the Middle East searches for new formulas, Morocco sets a key precedent: an engagement that is credible, balanced, and responsible. The “bag of rice” Bourita mentioned is not just a jab—it’s a clear metaphor for what genuine solidarity should look like. A solidarity that is not about flags and slogans, but about real actions, gestures, and grounded diplomacy.
And in this arena, the eloquent talkers are more exposed than ever.
