The U.S. decision [to recognize Morocco s sovereignty over the Western] Sahara, and Morocco s decision to renew the open relations with Israel, triggered a flood of negative reactions, all of which [claimed] that this move harms the stability of the region and may plunge it into a vortex of violence, social unrest, etc. The first to issue this prophecy was Palestinian journalist Abd Al-Bari Atwan, who wrote in an article in [the online daily] Rai Al-Yawm… that the Morocco-Israel agreement may be a recipe for civil war or even for wars [between] and unrest within the Maghreb countries, which have heretofore been immune to the wars and unrest that characterized the Arab East. [2] The same position was taken by the [pro-Palestinian] Moroccan Organization for the Support of National Causes, which condemned the renewal of the ties with Israel, describing it as a move which will cost Morocco dearly [and undermine] its history, stability, future and relations with the region. [3]