A rather intriguing and elaborate-looking letter sat one day on the desk of George Washington, 12 years before he became the first president of the independent American republic.
The letter presented a pressing problem: it was in Arabic and there was no one around at the time able to read it and interpret its contents. The year was 1777.
Finally, one man, a Jew, was found in New York who could translate the letter’s contents. It was a congratulatory letter from the people of Morocco to the 13 colonies, welcoming them warmly into the community of nations. The letter was not only the first-ever recognition of the colonies as a separate, independent entity, it also went on to clearly announce the desire for a relationship of friendship with the United States. The letter was signed with the royal seal of Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdullah of the Barbary Coast.
When Washington finally became president, he lost no time in responding. The people of the American republic, he said, humbly accept the good wishes of the people of North Africa. He reciprocated with wishes for peaceful and friendly relations. He went on to say that the United States of America was most interested in purchasing a parcel of land upon which an embassy compound could be built. Would the sultan be able to advise as to a suitable location for this endeavour?
In this amazing exchange, Morocco became the first country in the world to recognize American sovereignty, and the first parcel of American consular land in the world was purchased in Morocco.
Piracy and the Barbary Coast are almost synonymous, and in his original letter, the sultan proclaimed that any vessels bearing the American flag would enjoy freedom of passage and could dock at will along the coast and refresh themselves.
When the present King of Morocco visited America for the first time, then-U.S. president Bill Clinton, in welcoming the king, acknowledged all of the above, as well as the continuing friendly relations between the two countries, relations that span more than two centuries.
It need not be said, of course, that the Moroccan government has always been progressive and open. It is pro-western while maintaining its own relations with other Arab nations. Its Jews had, and continue to have, all rights and privileges.
The fact that one of its prominent ministers today is Jewish, as well as the fact that the administration of the United States will be appointing a Jew as its ambassador to Morocco, both attest to the uniqueness of Morocco.
One prays that the new generation of Moroccans will continue in this way and not fall into the abyss of ignorance and prejudice now seen in Arab and European media.