An emotionally charged demonstration by Moroccan youths recently produced such slogans as “Our souls and our blood are sacrifices to you, Leila.” This was reminiscent of the early stages of the Palestinian problem and its incorrect political and media handling. Moroccans need not shed a drop of blood or lose a single life if they handle the issue in the right manner — that is, by resorting to legal and diplomatic channels to get Leila returned to them. The island is in fact barely as large as a football field.
I do not think anyone, including either Spaniards and Algerians who unfortunately side with Spain in the issue, really doubts Morocco’s claim to the tiny island or to Ceuta and Melilla which will undoubtedly be returned to the mainland at some future date. Several strategic and wealthy colonies, Hong Kong for example, have been returned to mainland powers in recent times.
However, one wonders why Morocco chose to jump into an unequal war with a much more powerful country over a territory, which is one of several occupied by Spain. Morocco sent 10 soldiers to defend the rocky island, apparently, inviting strong Spanish intervention which is being justified as an action against Moroccan encroachment in a disputed territory.
It is surely obvious that Morocco never believed its only 10 soldiers could defend the island against the mighty Spanish battle ships. The Moroccan decision-makers are also surely well-aware of the risks involving their country in an unequal war with Spain despite the justice of their position.
In my view, this is an attempt on the Moroccan side to remind Spain, as well as the international community, of its nearly forgotten rights over a territory and the attempt is being made at a time when other colonial pockets are being returned to their original owners. Gibraltar is such a pocket which is under British control though it is far from London. The Gibraltar talks were in progress when the Moroccans landed on the rocks of Leila.
Moroccan Ceuta and Melilla are two other Moroccan areas under Spanish occupation. Morocco has every right to demand the return of its territories back. However, Morocco should not demand by sending its military forces; there is no parity between Morocco and its Spanish rival just as there is no comparison between the Arab League to which Morocco belongs, and the European Union to which Spain belongs. Morocco is not China which forced both Britain and Portugal to return its occupied territories at a previously agreed-upon time without so much as a minute’s delay.
Morocco should weigh the situation carefully and should not choose any form of confrontation as it is carried away by slogans of “sacrificing souls and blood for Leila.” That is a purely emotional approach that has landed the Arabs in their current dilemma in the Middle East and it has resulted in the loss of both land and rights.
The Arabs’ mistake in Palestine was their poor assessment of the situation even though they were and are in the right.
