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| Israel hit by racism |
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THE report on racism in Israel we carry today on our world news pages is shocking. The supporters of Betar Jerusalem have been in trouble with football authorities for racist chants at a black player on an opposing team, while the club itself pursues a policy, apparently dictated by fans, that it never signs an Arab. This is disgraceful and surely has no place in Israel. Jews are not known as racists and, having since time immemorial been at the receiving end of such prejudice, should be seen and heard to oppose any such behaviour.
It seems, too, that Ethiopian Jews feel they are being discriminated against in Israel. This is a return to the bad old days when they were first rescued and flown to Israel to begin new lives. At that time, nearly three decades ago, they found it difficult to integrate into society either religiously or socially. Israeli parents were reluctant to allow their children to befriend Ethiopian youngsters at school and were even less willing to consider them as marriage partners for their offspring, despite their full halachic acceptance as Jews by the rabbinate. Call it what you will — xenophobia or racism — it is unpalatable and unacceptable. Such behaviour is not apparently a criminal offence in Israel, but it should be. For a nation born from the ashes of the Holocaust, many of whose population witnessed the Nazi selection process, this should be anathema to everything they stand for. Arab Israeli footballers have proudly represented their country at international level and are warmly welcomed by their team-mates. Ethiopians have not yet enjoyed that success, but hopefully they soon will. Only one has appeared at senior level. Sport is often a useful means to counter racism, although not at present, it seems, in the case of Betar Jerusalem fans.
E-MAIL: editor@jewishtelegraph.com
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