Jewish Athletes Face Safety Concerns As Antisemitic Attacks Grow Globally
Sports can often be an escape from the daily struggles and realities for so many people. In Israel, sports have become anything but an escape in the ongoing war against Hamas.
Many Israeli athletes fear for their safety — especially when competing abroad — due to security threats and fear a repeat of the 1972 Summer Olympics, where 11 Israeli athletes were murdered by affiliates of the Palestinian terror group Black September.
The country’s top soccer league is scheduled to return this coming Saturday for the first time since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, with matches taking place without fans as a safety precaution. Some teams located in southern cities, including SC Ashdod and Hapoel Be'er Sheva, are not likely to host games due to the likelihood of sirens sounding warnings during games.
READ: How You Can Help Support Religion Unplugged
The war between Israeli Defense Forces and Hamas began six weeks ago. Over 200 civilians are being held hostage by the terrorist organization, while Israel continues its bombing of Gaza.
Soccer set to return
Another ongoing issue for Israel's Premier League is the participation of foreign players and coaches, many of whom left the country soon after the war with Gaza began. In fact, 60% of foreign players are not expected to return.
Israel’s national team took on Kosovo in its first match since the Israel-Hamas war started, losing 1-0 against Kosovo on Nov. 12 in a European Championship qualifying match. During the playing of Israel’s national anthem before the game, some fans could be heard booing and whistling.
UEFA, the governing body of European football, said in a statement that “proceedings have been opened for disturbances during the national anthems. The UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body will deal with this case in due course.”
But UEFA's refusal to hold a moment of silence for victims of the Hamas attacks forced players to create their own show of respect in an Under-21 game played last Friday. Poland's youth side hosted Israel in Lodz, where both teams decided to observe an unsanctioned minute of silence to remember the 1,200 Israelis killed in the attacks, while another 200 have been taken hostage.
The referees could be seen waiting patiently for the game to start once the minute came to an end.
This past Saturday, meanwhile, saw an emotionally-charged 2024 European Championship qualifier that saw Israel host Romania in Felcsut, a Hungarian village of around 1,900 people.
While Romania won 2-1, Israeli fans packed the stands at Pancho Arena, many chanting slogans and waving flags. Some staged a demonstration for the hostages still being held by Hamas, raising banners that said, “Men, women, children murdered,” and chanting “Bring them home.”
Yuval Nakibli, a 25-year-old from Israel, told the Associated Press that she felt it was important to support the team.
“We can show what’s really important, and it’s to bring all the hostages home right now and finish that terrible war,” she said.
Possible basketball ‘bubble’
While soccer is a popular sport in Israel, basketball may be even more popular. Unlike soccer, there is no immediate plan for the country’s top basketball league to return to action.
One idea being floated is playing the schedule in a "bubble" similar to the one the NBA implemented at the height of the pandemic. Hadera or Afula, cities seen as low-risk for potential rocket attacks, are among the proposed sites. Another plan calls for such a bubble to take place abroad in either Greece, Cyprus or Serbia, nations that have the basketball facilities needed to host games. Like soccer, the games would feature no fans.
At the same time, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel's most-decorated basketball team, has used Belgrade for their home games in the EuroLeague, Europe’s top club tournament.
Hapoel Tel Aviv, meanwhile, have had their home games in the EuroCup, the continent’s second-tier basketball competition, postponed. However, they played their European away games, securing three wins and one defeat.
Israel’s club teams, both in soccer and basketball, participate in Europe’s continental tournaments to avoid games against Middle Eastern nations.
Competing abroad and another Munich ‘72
But competing in other parts of the world has also been dangerous. Israel’s fencing team had to evacuate their hotel in Bern, Switzerland, recently due to a bomb threat. After six hours of waiting in the dressing room of the sports hall where they had competed, they received word from authorities that nothing had been found.
The country’s artistic swimming team posted on Instagram their fears ahead of the World Swimming Championships to take place in Qatar this coming February, saying they are not likely to participate due to safety concerns.
At the same time, officials from Luxembourg, Czechia, Slovakia, Azerbaijan, the United Kingdom, Germany and the Scandinavian countries are among those urging the World Aquatic Federation to relocate the tournament.
Israel has refrained from doing so, even though some of their athletes fear taking part.
“We are scared that Munich 1972 will happen again,” the team wrote, referring to the terror attack against Israel's Olympians 40 years ago.
Running now through Dec. 31, NewsMatch will match your donations up to $1,000. Your generosity will help keep Religion Unplugged going in 2024 and beyond. You can donate here.
Clemente Lisi is the executive editor at Religion Unplugged. He is the author of “The FIFA World Cup: A History of the Planet’s Biggest Sporting Event” and previously served as deputy head of news at the New York Daily News and a longtime reporter at The New York Post. Follow him on Twitter @ClementeLisi.