فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Algiers: Algerian state television has launched a scathing attack on the United Arab Emirates following the broadcast by the Emirati-owned Sky News Arabia channel of a program featuring Algerian historian Mohamed El-Amine Belghith. During the program, Belghith claimed that the Amazigh identity, a core component of Algeria’s national identity according to its constitution, was a “Zionist-French fabrication.”
In a strongly worded post on its official Facebook page, Algerian television stated that there is a “dangerous media escalation from the UAE that crosses all red lines regarding the unity and identity of the Algerian people.” It described the broadcast as a “serious targeting of the deep-rooted constants of the Algerian people and an attempt to cast doubt on their origins and profound history.”
The post further accused the UAE of “attacking Algeria, a nation with a history of resistance,” considering it a “desperate attempt by hybrid entities lacking genuine roots and sovereignty.” Algerian television went on to accuse the UAE of “transforming into factories of sedition and the dissemination of ideological poisons, exploiting an ideology peddler in the history market,” directly referring to historian Mohamed El-Amine Belghith.
Algerian television firmly asserted that “Algeria, which sacrificed millions of martyrs in defense of its unity, will not succumb to provocations and will not forgive any infringement upon its constants and the foundations of its identity and belonging.” It warned that “media incitement that touches the identity of the Algerian people will not pass without moral and popular accountability.”
The state broadcaster described “the attack on the unity of the Algerian people as not merely a media offense but an aggression targeting values, sovereignty, and common destiny,” emphasizing that “this attack only comes to garner more loyalty for those whose sleep is disturbed by Algeria’s stability and progress.” It concluded with a fiery statement, declaring: “Algeria will not stand weeping over the ruins of the support and victory it has provided, but as the steadfast do, it will return the blow twofold.”
Belghith’s Statements Spark Widespread Outrage:
The statements made by Algerian historian Mohamed El-Amine Belghith, in which he described the Amazigh identity as a “French-Zionist ideological project” and claimed that the origin of the Berbers lies with “ancient Phoenician Arabs,” have ignited a wave of widespread anger and a heated debate in Algerian political and cultural circles. Many viewed these statements as a direct assault on one of the three fundamental pillars of Algeria’s national identity, as enshrined in the constitution: Islam, Arabism, and Amazighity.
Belghith made these remarks during an interview with Sky News Arabia, when the Algerian presenter asked him to clarify his controversial views on Amazigh identity and whether these positions represented an erasure of an entire people’s identity. He responded by saying: “There is no culture. This is a purely French-Zionist ideological project. There is no such thing as Amazighity; there are Berbers, and they are ancient Arabs according to what major historians in the East and West acknowledge.”
Belghith further added that “the Amazigh issue is considered, by the consensus of the wise men of Libya, Algeria, and Morocco, a political project aimed at undermining the unity of the Arab Maghreb, serving a French project that seeks to impose a Francophone Maghreb.” He concluded by stating: “We trace our origins back to the Phoenician Canaanites, and this is the secret between us and our adversaries at home and abroad.”
Immediately after the clip circulated, Belghith faced a barrage of sharp criticism from activists, researchers, and journalists, who described his statements as “provocative” and “politically motivated.” Some even compared his remarks to those of writer Boualem Sansal, who is currently imprisoned.
Resurgence of the “Phoenician Roots” Theory:
In recent years, the theory of Algeria’s “Phoenician roots” has seen a significant resurgence, spreading widely through certain influential pages and individuals on social media, within the context of the recurring identity debate in the country.
Algeria-UAE Relations Return to Crisis Point:
This new Algerian stance towards the UAE pushes relations between the two countries back to a crisis point after a period of temporary calm. The last contact between Presidents Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was during the recent Eid al-Fitr, where they agreed to “a meeting between them at the earliest opportunity.”
Relations between Algeria and the UAE have witnessed severe tension over the past two years, following Algeria’s accusations against Abu Dhabi of carrying out “hostile acts” against it in the region and its significant concern over the UAE’s role in pushing neighboring countries towards normalization with Israel, which Algeria considers a direct threat. This tension has been reflected in focused political and media campaigns warning of what they describe as the “Emirati danger.”
After being confined to the media, the issue of the UAE took on an official dimension in January 2024, when the Supreme Security Council in Algeria issued a statement expressing its regret over what it described as “recorded hostile actions against Algeria by a brotherly Arab country,” which was directly understood as a warning to the UAE.
This was followed in March 2024 by a direct accusation from the Algerian President against the UAE of “igniting the fires of strife in Algeria’s vicinity and surrounding areas,” stating: “In every place where there is conflict, the money of this state is always present. In the neighborhood, in Mali, Libya, and Sudan. We harbor no animosity towards anyone, because we are in need of God Almighty and the Algerian man and woman. We hope to live peacefully with everyone, and for those who slander us, there are limits to patience.”
The first sign of a thaw in relations between the two leaders came on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Rome in June 2024, when Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Emirati President Mohamed bin Zayed were seen in a notable side conversation, given the preceding tension. However, this latest development appears to be resetting relations to square one.
