Orban Plays Host to Israel in Euro 2024 Qualifiers Amidst Palestine’s World Cup Preparations in the Throes of War.
In the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas conflict, where the echoes of warfare reverberate, Orban extends hospitality to Israel for the Euro 2024 qualifying matches, concurrently with Palestine’s World Cup preparations.
A tableau unfolds in the construction domain of Israel’s separation barrier in Bil’in, where Israeli soldiers, a mere backdrop, observe as Palestinians and foreign activists engage in play.
The decision unfolds: Palestine, amidst the geopolitical intricacies, designates Kuwait’s neutral venue as the stage for their home games. A diplomatic ballet orchestrated by the Orban-Netanyahu alliance brings Israel’s Euro 2024 qualifiers to the Hungarian terrain.
Makram Daboub, the sagacious tactician at the helm of the Palestine national football team, finds solace, albeit fleeting, in the safety of his players stranded in Gaza. The primary focus shifts to navigating the tumultuous waters of preparing the squad for the impending 2026 World Cup qualification games.
Daboub’s aspirations to include Ibrahim Abuimeir, Khaled Al-Nabris, and Ahmed Al-Kayed in a training camp held in Jordan remain unfulfilled. The Israel-Hamas conflict, now entrenched in its second month, holds them captive in Gaza.
Echoing the wisdom of the influential Italian maestro Arrigo Sacchi, Daboub contemplates football’s paradoxical significance as “the most important of the least important things in life.” Against the discordant backdrop of Israel’s offensive on Gaza, the national team gears up to face Lebanon next Thursday and Australia on November 21.
“In the crucible of adversity, they endure,” Daboub shares with The Associated Press. “The toll of the bombardment has claimed kin, but their resilience persists.”
The narrative unfurls as two Gaza-based players, Mohamed Saleh and Mahmoud Wadi, poised in Egypt, anticipate joining the Palestinian contingent in Jordan. Daboub paints a poignant picture of his players navigating the tumultuous seas of psychological distress amidst the death and destruction in Gaza.
Yet, amid the harrowing tales, Susan Shalabi, the vice-president of the Palestine Football Association, underscores an unwavering resolve. For the players and the populace, the resounding desire is for the games to proceed.
“This is a collective plea for visibility,” Shalabi articulates to AP. “A yearning to exist unburdened, akin to the rest of humanity. The national team symbolizes the aspiration for recognition as a liberated, sovereign entity.”
Initially slated to host Australia, Palestine yields to the tumult of circumstances, transmuting the hosting rights to a neutral enclave in Kuwait. The preparations, marred by disruptions, shift gears. The team, ensconced in Jordan, strategically positions itself to navigate the logistical hurdles of international travel for the impending games.
“We shall exert every fiber of our being,” Daboub affirms. “Football, the global pastime, acts as a unifying force. Our endeavor extends beyond victory; it seeks to elucidate the Palestinian identity, asserting our right to life and an ardor for peace.”
On a parallel plane, Israel’s national football team finds itself navigating uncharted territories. The familiar embrace of home games gives way to the confines of a diminutive Hungarian village. The Euro 2024 qualifying tournament unfolds as safety concerns precipitate the relocation of Israel’s remaining home games.
Switzerland becomes the first adversary on this peculiar stage, with the match slated for the forthcoming Wednesday. Romania follows suit, three days later. The quest for a coveted spot in the continental championship drives Israel’s ambitions, the prospect of which tantalizingly beckons for the first time since affiliating with UEFA in 1994.
However, a caveat accompanies this endeavor. The matches, pivotal as they are, transpire within the opulent confines of a stadium believed to be the brainchild of none other than Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Felcsut, a quaint village, provides the canvas for this footballing spectacle, embodying the deep-seated political camaraderie shared between Orbán and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Yacov Hadas-Handelsman, Israel’s ambassador to Hungary, unveils the intricate dance of diplomacy and sportsmanship. The symbiotic relationship between Orbán and Netanyahu emerges as a pivotal catalyst in orchestrating Israel’s footballing sojourn in Felcsut.
“A confluence of personal bonds, a shared passion for sports, and football’s intrinsic allure within the echelons of the Hungarian government,” elucidates Hadas-Handelsman to The Associated Press.
Even preceding the recent turmoil in the form of Hamas attacks, Hungary’s leader championed his nation as a haven for Jews within the European landscape. The aftermath sees a clampdown on pro-Palestinian demonstrations and a finger pointed at Western European cities embroiled in such protests, all serving as testaments to Hungary’s purported superiority in combatting antisemitism.
The stage is set, the geopolitical tapestry interwoven with the threads of footballing aspirations and diplomatic affiliations. In the unfolding drama, the ball becomes a symbol not only of sporting fervor but also of resilience and the pursuit of normalcy amid the turbulent currents of conflict.
