Sahara : When Algeria sides with a Zionist to undermine Morocco [Editorial]

Ya Biladi

09-07-2025

مدة القراءة: 2'
In recent days, Algerian state media (notably APS) have eagerly amplified John Bolton's call for a revival of a self-determination referendum in Western Sahara. The former neoconservative hawk, known for his hardline opposition to the United Nations, unwavering support for Israel, and aggressive stance toward the Arab world, is now being portrayed - through Algeria's official voice - as an unlikely ally on one of its core foreign policy issues. The irony is glaring, and this alignment raises more questions than it answers.
John Bolton is a symbol of political Zionism in Washington, a champion of moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, a vocal supporter of U.S.-led wars in the Middle East, and a staunch advocate for Israeli interests. He embodies everything the Algerian regime claims to oppose: Western imperialism, aggression against Arab nations, and most of all, Israeli policies toward Palestinians. Yet Algiers, which touts its support for Palestine as a cornerstone of its diplomacy, has chosen to celebrate the very man who stands in ideological opposition to those values.
Palestine Sacrificed on the Altar of the Polisario
This isn't just an ideological contradiction, it reflects a clear hierarchy of priorities. By aligning itself with Bolton's position, Algeria shows that it is willing to sideline its historic commitments whenever the chance to undermine Morocco presents itself. The Palestinian cause, often waved at Pan-African, Arab, or Non-Aligned summits, becomes secondary to Algeria's fixation on the Sahara.
It's a logic reminiscent of temporary alliances in conflict zones, where sworn enemies unite against a shared foe. But here, it's not a desperate wartime pact, it's a calculated diplomatic move. Algeria, which presents itself as a champion of anti-imperialist solidarity, is symbolically aligning with an ideologue whose worldview is the very antithesis of its stated doctrine. And it's not even doing so in the name of national security, but to prop up a separatist movement that has been steadily losing international traction. Worse still, Bolton is calling on Algeria to make financial concessions to benefit Trump and American corporations.
Realpolitik or Rank Inconsistency?
Some analysts, like those quoted by El Independiente, frame this as realpolitik, a pragmatic strategy where ideology takes a back seat to national interest. Fair enough. But that framing doesn't erase the glaring contradiction of a regime that claims to be a fortress of Palestinian solidarity while publicly legitimizing one of the most outspoken proponents of American Zionism.
Algeria, which regularly condemns Morocco's normalization with Israel, now finds itself echoing figures who helped craft that very normalization across the Arab world. This strange convergence feels less like a calculated strategy and more like a revealing slip. The Algerian regime appears increasingly willing to set aside all its red lines, including its foundational anti-Zionism and anti-colonialism, for the sake of opposing Morocco.
And perhaps that's the real takeaway from this episode: in certain diplomatic battles, the masks eventually fall. Algeria's support for the Polisario seems, now more than ever, less about the principle of self-determination and more about a deeply entrenched hostility toward Morocco.