My Word: Crashing waves in Ceuta - opinion
Last weekend, some 80,000 people, mainly young men, crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, overwhelming the border and raising questions about migration, sovereignty, and security. The article discusses the incident's implications for Europe, the EU's tolerance of migrants, and the potential weaponization of migration by countries like Russia and Belarus. It also draws parallels to Israel's October 7, 2023, attacks and notes the spread of anti-Israel conspiracy theories on social media.
Last weekend, some 80,000 people, mainly young men, swarmed across the border from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, overwhelming the border and raising urgent questions about migration, sovereignty, and security across Europe. The images of barefoot adolescents emerging onto beaches and climbing fences have entered public awareness, reminiscent of the 2015 Syrian refugee crisis. Most infiltrators returned or were returned to Morocco within hours, but the incident left residents scared and scarred, and prompted a mental lockdown among Europeans and Brits. The article suggests that the mass crossing was not the work of small smuggling networks but the result of digital platforms spreading the message that the border was open, and notes that Spanish courts had recently ruled that migrants reaching Ceuta by sea would not be immediately turned back. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez fumed at this assault on Spanish sovereignty. The incident tested the EU's tolerance of migrants and may encourage countries like Russia and Belarus to further weaponize migrants, as happened in 2021 when Belarus allowed an influx of refugees along its borders with Lithuania, Poland, and Latvia. The article draws parallels to Israel's October 7, 2023, attacks, when thousands of terrorists invaded southern Israel, murdering 1,200 and abducting 251. It also notes the spread of anti-Israel conspiracy theories on social media, citing Brendan O'Neill's commentary and the Combat Antisemitism Movement's finding that over 100 million people were exposed to the idea of a 'Jewish plot' within the first 72 hours. The article concludes that no part of the world can or should accept the bulk of another part's population, and that Israel is a leading light in developing techniques and technologies to combat such difficulties.