{"id":74729,"date":"2026-08-01T07:02:48","date_gmt":"2026-08-01T11:02:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stateofthenation.info\/?p=74729"},"modified":"2026-08-01T07:03:51","modified_gmt":"2026-08-01T11:03:51","slug":"ceuta-crisis-sparks-online-speculation-over-israels-role-in-pressuring-spain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateofthenation.info\/?p=74729","title":{"rendered":"

Ceuta crisis sparks online speculation over Israel\u2019s role in pressuring Spain<\/b><\/h2>"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Hundreds of migrants attempt to swim from Morocco to the Spanish city of Ceuta in North Africa, while the number of arrivals exceeded 1,500 in just over a week, according to local news, in Ceuta, Spain on July 31, 2026. [Marcos Moreno \u2013 Anadolu Agency]<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n

Middle East Monitor<\/p>\n

The emergency in Spain\u2019s North African enclave of Ceuta has sparked an intense online debate over Israel\u2019s possible role in efforts to punish Madrid over its outspoken support for Palestine.<\/p>\n

The speculation intensified after social media users resurfaced\u00a0articles published earlier<\/a>\u00a0this year by pro-Israel analysts who argued that Israel and the US should aid Morocco over its claim to Ceuta and Melilla as a means of pressuring Spain.<\/p>\n

Israeli sources revealed that in March, Michael Rubin, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, called on Morocco to organise a new \u201cGreen March<\/a>\u201d into the Spanish enclaves. Writing for the US-based Middle East Forum, Rubin suggested that Moroccans approach Ceuta and Melilla with bulldozers, cross into the territories unarmed and raise the Moroccan flag. He framed the proposal as a response to what he portrayed as Spain\u2019s anti-colonial hypocrisy.<\/p>\n

A separate article published by the\u00a0Israeli outlet Ynet in April<\/a>\u00a0recommend that Israel could use its influence in Washington to help Morocco \u201crecover\u201d Ceuta and Melilla. The author, Middle East Forum fellow Amine Ayoub, presented support for Rabat\u2019s territorial claim as a means of punishing Spain for challenging US and Israeli policies.<\/p>\n

Ayoub proposed three ways for Israel to apply pressure: direct diplomatic signals to support Morocco, lobbying through Washington and repeatedly accusing Spain of hypocrisy over its recognition of Palestine. He concluded that helping Morocco \u201crecover\u201d Ceuta and Melilla would \u201cpunish\u201d a NATO member which had challenged US and Israeli policies.<\/p>\n

These earlier proposals have fuelled online debate over the latest crisis. Commentator Bruno Ma\u00e7\u00e3es drew attention to the April article, noting that pro-Israel analysts had urged Israel to help Morocco take control of Ceuta as a way of punishing Spain for its support for Palestine.<\/p>\n