Silence is complicity in non-support of Israel - opinion

There has been plenty of support for Israel after the brutal atrocities that Hamas inflicted on the country’s South, leaving more than 1,300 dead and 3,000 injured, coupled with the absolute indiscriminate slaughter of women and babies and the destruction and desecration of the communities by the Gaza border.

Add to that the many hostages that are now being held in the bowels of the strip who are not only Israeli nationals but from the United States, Canada, France, England, and many others.

Bar none, this is one of the most tragic events that the world has faced since the Holocaust.

Some support has been provided by professional sports franchises in North America across all of the major leagues. From the National Basketball Association, National Football League, Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League, and Major League Soccer, there has been unwavering backing by the leagues and from the majority of the clubs saying clearly that they stand with Israel and stand with humanity.

Of course, there has also been plenty of support from teams here in Israel, from Maccabi Tel Aviv to Maccabi Haifa, Beitar Jerusalem and Hapoel Tel Aviv, while those clubs have also lost fans and players from their youth department in the unfolding tragedy.

However, there have also been plenty of teams and athletes, both here in the Holy Land and those around the globe, who have remained silent, choosing to pacify their fan bases that have an ingrained hatred of Jews and Israel, seemingly not wanting to rock the boat.

The Miami Heat was the first US franchise to post a message in support of Israel while many others soon followed, from the New York Jets right before they played at the Denver Broncos, to the New York Giants after falling to the Miami Dolphins. The Utah Jazz, Cincinnati Reds, Toronto Maple Leafs, Minnesota Vikings and Inter Miami all came to bat for Israel.

The Philadelphia Phillies held a moment of silence before their playoff game against the Atlanta Braves and have no doubt walked the walk.

However, there have been some teams who have tragically not even talked the talk, and have decided to remain silent despite the murder and kidnapping of so many people, including American citizens.

The New York Knicks and New York Rangers have so far been missing in action while the New York Yankees, after almost four days, finally did the bare minimum by reposting MLB’s general statement. The two teams owned by Madison Square Garden Sports, the Knicks and Rangers, have not said a word and their silence has been deadly.

Silence is complicity

As President Joe Biden said, silence is complicity.

New York City, one of the largest homes to Jews in the world, has two teams with so many Jewish fans who have not done the basic, humane thing to do – that is, condemn terrorism, condemn the murder of innocents, and condemn Hamas, whose mission is to kill Jews and destroy the State of Israel.

The Knicks and Rangers have done NOTHING!

How can any Jew or any honest person at this point even support these two franchises, both of which this writer was a season-ticket holder during the time I lived in the Big Apple.

We can also add to that the most famous franchise in the NHL - my hometown Montreal Canadiens.

Where are they?

When I queried over a dozen journalists who cover these teams I received only one positive response that they will ask the club why they have remained silent.

Again, silence is complicity.

World champion boxer Floyd Mayweather has risen to the occasion and not only made his feelings be known, but arranged to send his private jet loaded with supplies for the IDF. LeBron James also came out with a strongly worded statement as we wait for many other top-of-the-line athletes to share their thoughts, just as they do with many other social justice issues.

However, most are probably afraid to rock the boat and create an uprising in their constituencies. When it comes to the Jews and potentially making a comment of support, well, that’s bad for business.

The English Premier League, along with their teams – including many owned by Jews – has been silent while the French soccer league and many more European competitions including FIFA and UEFA have also not said a word. When it came to tragedies in Turkey, Morocco, Syria, Libya they quickly all jumped onto the bandwagon, but when it comes to Israel, well, it’s complicated because it’s the Jews.

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin sent a letter to Shino Zuares, the Israel Football Association Chairman expressing his condolences “upon learning about the tragic acts of violence that occurred in Israel, resulting in the loss of innocent lives.”

This, however, is not enough. Not only did the letter not even indicate that these acts of violence were Hamas-perpetrated terrorism, murder, slaughter, and kidnapping of European nationals, UEFA did not even have the courage to post the letter on its official channels. Shame on Ceferin and UEFA!

A senior IFA official, who wished to remain anonymous, also weighed in.

“We try to explain to ourselves the complete disregard by FIFA and are afraid to even express the possible explanations for this. More than 1,200 civilians were murdered in the most barbaric manner and fell victim to a massacre that no human being can imagine. Over 150 were kidnapped and more than 3,000 were injured.

“We were attacked by monsters and yet, FIFA sticks with The Sound of Silence.”

Apparently, the words “never again” have not yet been ingrained in their consciousness more than 80 years after the Holocaust took place.

Silence is complicity.

The situation in certain sectors in Israel is also troubling. Arab teams Bnei Sakhnin and Bnei Reineh have not uttered a word, other than the former posting about the death of retired Israeli Lior Assulin, one of its former players.

Jewish Israeli athletes have called out the Arab Israeli players for not saying a word.

One Arab Israeli player who has made a statement is Anan Khalaili, who starred for Israel’s youth soccer teams over the summer and now plays for Maccabi Haifa.

“My family and I share in the sorrow of the bereaved parents and wish a speedy recovery to the injured! I was very pained by the heinous murder that was committed! And despite all the pain, we must not lose hope! May the enmity cease and may the sun rise again and peace prevail between the nations! I have lived alongside Jews and cooperated with them and will continue to do so! I pray for better days and wish for a speedy return of the abducted to their families and a full recovery for the wounded.”

Karam Jaber from Maccabi Netanya also showed support.

“I am a citizen of the country and live the same reality as anyone in the universe who hates wars, does not like bloodshed, but unfortunately this is not something that we can determine. I am very saddened by what is happening, I am very saddened by the bloodshed of innocent citizens and I hope it will end soon. I wish I had some way on a personal level to stop all of this, believe me, I wouldn’t hesitate. Praying for much better days.”

While a few others have started to show support, including Muhammed Jaber and Hamza Shibli, there are far and few between as many, many Arab Israelis have decided to say nothing.

This did not stand well with Israel soccer players Yarden Cohen and Shon Edri, who have made strong statements calling out the Arab Israelis, including former Israel National Team players Beram Kayal and Monas Dabbur, for not having the common decency that the few above had.

“Where are all the players from the Arab sector? Why don’t you defend us? I would enter the dressing room and you would hug us as if we were brothers, after goals you come running to us as if you are bringing us children, but when children are taken from us, innocent children and women, you say nothing and you go hide in holes!”

Cohen also remarked: “Today, barbarians are murdering Jews, butchering children at point-blank range, where are you? I don’t want a hug and I don’t want anything. Defend us! Beram Kayal, you played for the Israeli national team, a month ago you were injured and the whole country was there for you! Monas Dabbur, where are you? Did you cry when you were booed in the National Team’s uniform?! We supported you, we said it was a handful of people! Where are all the teams, and why don’t those in the Arab sector post a condemnation? Support?! Something! Your silence says everything.”

It’s time for everyone to come together to fight the common enemy and not be afraid of saying something that may be against the grain of one’s community.

By being silent each and every one of the athletes and teams are siding with the terrorists whether they like it or not.

Hopefully, we will see more and more sports teams and athletes, both in Israel and across the globe, understand that this is not the time to stay silent but to rise to the occasion and stand with humankind in its hour of need.

As David Blatt so eloquently but forcefully said: “Our people and our land are under constant attack. Our way of life is in danger of disappearing. Wake up world! Today it is here, tomorrow it is in your backyard. This is real, call it Hamas, call it ISIS, call it terrorism. This is a battle for humanity.”

Now is not the time to be silent.

Silence is complicity.