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An Israeli diplomat had to be evacuated from the Moroccan capital of Rabat on Sunday after tens of thousands of locals demonstrated in “support of Jerusalem” and burned Israeli flags in front of the parliament building where the diplomat was attending a conference.

Israeli delegate to the European Parliament in Brussels, David Saranga, was attending the annual EUROMED conference, a joint forum of European and Mediterranean countries, on Sunday when protesters marched toward the Moroccan parliament building, waving Palestinians flags in the air and even burning Israeli ones on the ground.

Days before the start of the conference, Morocco’s Islamist ruling Justice and Development Party (PJD) declared a boycott on the conference to protest the Israeli diplomat’s participation. Aziz Ammari, PJD’s parliament head, told Al Arabiya that his party has a long-held position of boycotting “all forms of activities with Israel.” Ammari was quoted by Al Arabiya as telling Morocco’s Hespress website that his party “will not participate in any parliament activity attended by the Zionist entity.”

Saranga told Israel Hayom on Monday that as “unpleasant” as the protests were, they were no reason for him not to return to Morocco in the future, adding that he hoped Rabat and Jerusalem could one day enjoy proper diplomatic relations.

The Israeli diplomat said that countries choosing to boycott future EUROMED conferences because of the participation of Israeli representatives could miss out on an “amazing project that promotes partnership in the area, an important and constructive process, which is a benefit for all sides.”

“We have to remember that [EUROMED] is an international forum, composed of European and Mediterranean countries. No countries that want to be a part of this process can deny any other member,” Saranga said, “So I hope Israel’s partners in this international forum will understand the benefits of cooperation with all members.”

The massive protest, which numbered tens of thousands of demonstrators, peaked following several days of quieter protests and calls for Saranga’s expulsion from Morocco. According to Reuters, at least 40,000 people took to the streets as part of the march organized by the Al-Adl Wal Ihsan (Justice and Spirituality) group. However, organizers said some 100,000 participated in the demonstration.

At the end of the conference, security forces opted to escort Saranga out via a back door, due to concerns that the mob outside would try to attack him as he exited the building.

Saranga was then taken under heavy security to the airport, where he opted not to wait for his scheduled flight back to Brussels that night, but instead boarded an earlier flight to Paris, connecting back to his Brussels office in Europe.

Security forces rescue Israeli delegate to the European Parliament, David Saranga, from Moroccan parliament building in Rabat after tens of thousands of protesters take to the streets burning Israeli flags • Demonstration follows smaller protests days earlier calling for Saranga’s expulsion from Morocco • Saranga tells Israel Hayom: No countries that want to be a part of EUROMED can deny any other member.