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🇮🇱 Israel /Conflict & Security

My Word: Crashing waves in Ceuta - opinion

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Opinion Sources not specified Context piece
  • Around 80,000 individuals, primarily young men, crossed from Morocco into the Spanish town of Ceuta, prompting discussions about migration and border security.
  • The incident, marked by striking images of adolescents scaling fences and crossing waters, is being analyzed as a potential

The recent mass crossing of approximately 80,000 people, mostly young men, from Morocco into the Spanish town of Ceuta has ignited a debate about migration, border control, and the potential weaponization of human movement.

Using a word like “swarmed” has probably already marked me in certain circles, and I should issue a trigger warning now that, at the risk of being accused of dehumanizing, I might describe the incident as an “invasion” or “incursion.”

— Liat CollinsThe author reflects on the charged language used to describe the mass border crossing and the potential for misinterpretation.

Images of barefoot adolescents navigating fences and waters have entered public consciousness, drawing parallels to past migrant crises in Europe. The author notes the difficulty in labeling these individuals, highlighting terms like "migrants," "infiltrators," and "asylum-seekers" as politically charged. The incident is framed as a challenge to Spanish sovereignty and European norms, suggesting a deliberate test of borders less than 20 km from mainland Europe.

Whatever they came to do, it wasn’t to have a picnic in the picturesque small town or cash in on Spain’s success in last month’s FIFA World Cup. It was a challenge to Spain’s sovereignty, European conceptions, and the greater global diplomatic order.

— Liat CollinsThe author posits that the mass crossing was not a spontaneous event but a deliberate challenge to established order.

While many were returned to Morocco shortly after arrival, the event left a lasting impact on Ceuta's residents, who experienced fear and a sense of insecurity. This fear extended to Europeans and Britons, underscoring a broader anxiety about border vulnerability. The author criticizes the concept of "open borders combined with closed eyes," arguing it creates opportunities for abuse and tests the European Union's tolerance.

Open borders combined with closed eyes are vulnerable to abuse.

— Liat CollinsThe author critiques the policy of open borders when not accompanied by vigilant oversight.

The incident is characterized as "Migration by mobilization," suggesting it was not the work of small smuggling networks but a coordinated effort facilitated by digital platforms. The author implies that the mass crossing was orchestrated to probe the limits of European response and potentially exploit existing policies.

This mass crossing was not the work of small smuggling networks, but the result of the digital platforms

— Liat CollinsThe author suggests a coordinated, technologically facilitated aspect to the migration event.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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