- December 1, 2024
- 12:04 am
- Israel
Between the post about the telephone conversation between the Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov and the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran Abbas Araghchi and the post about the shortage of kerosene for Russian airlines to fly to Cuba, the Russian Foreign Ministry on its official Facebook account on November 30, 2024 joyfully posted about (ta-ta-ta-ta…..)
“On November 29, the first friendly football tournament among Russian-speaking Israelis “Commonwealth Cup” took place in Netanya (Israel).”
All Mother Russia rejoices — somewhere else abroadexcept Syria, Brunei, Belarus, Vietnam, Russian teams were allowed to play football!!!!
Where-where? Yes in Israel!
On November 30, 2024, the Russian Foreign Ministry happily announced the holding of the first friendly football tournament among Russian-speaking Israelis – “Commonwealth Cup” (with whom is the commonwealth – with Iran? – ed.).
“On November 29, the first friendly football tournament among Russian-speaking Israelis, the Commonwealth Cup, took place in Netanya.
The sports competition was organized on the initiative of the public organization “Israeli Anti-Fascist Movement”, with the support of the Netanya City Hall and the Russian Embassy in Israel.
Four teams took part in the friendly competition: “Israeli Anti-Fascist Movement”, “Strength in Unity”, “Association of Sports and Cultural Initiatives ASCEND”, “All-Israeli Association of Jews from the Caucasus”, – the Russian Foreign Ministry happily reports.
On video, after “toda slave and jaffa” from an Israeli representative, someone said that “this is a real icebreaker that is moving towards its goal and… (further indistinct)“. After the performance of the USSR anthem (the words were hard to hear in the video, but the music was familiar)“harsh Russian-speaking Israelis” kicked a ball in the rain and received medals and cups (inscriptions in Hebrew).
video – https://www.facebook.com/RusEmbassyIsr/videos/976754497626667
Against the backdrop of the international isolation of Russian athletes, such a tournament in Israel became a rare opportunity for Russia to demonstrate “successes” in the foreign policy arena.
But why did Israel become the location for such an event?
Why is Russia isolated in sports?
Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, international sports organizations began excluding Russian athletes and teams from tournaments. Russian football clubs and national teams were suspended from all tournaments under the auspices of FIFA and UEFA. The move was part of a broader policy of sanctions aimed at isolating Russia in response to aggression against Ukraine.
However, Israel, which is not a member of the EU and does not support all international sanctions against Russia, has proven to be one of the few countries where Moscow can still hold its cultural and sporting events.
Israel and Russia: A window of opportunity for Moscow
Israel is home to a significant Russian-speaking community, numbering about a million people. This community is often the target of Russian authorities seeking to “maintain cultural and political ties.” Tournaments such as the Commonwealth Cup serve as an element of so-called “soft power”, allowing Moscow to demonstrate its involvement in the life of the diaspora.
However, holding such events in Israel raises questions. For example:
- Why is Russia using Israel to circumvent isolation?
Against the backdrop of global isolation, Israel remains one of the few countries where Russian initiatives meet with support.
- How does this affect Israeli-Ukrainian relations?
Israel is trying to maintain a neutral position in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, but participation in such events may be perceived as a signal of support for the Russian side.
Sports and politics: double standards?
It is interesting that Russia manages to hold events in Israel despite international sanctions. At the same time, many countries, including European countries, have closed their doors to Russian athletes.
| Comparison of sports insulation | Russia | Israel |
|---|---|---|
| Participation in international tournaments | Forbidden | Allowed |
| Organization of sporting events | Limited | Maybe |
| Attitude towards sanctions | Negative | Discreet |
The question many Israelis ask is: Why is Russia, which violates international norms, allowed to hold its events in democratic Israel while it is cut off from Europe?
Ukrainian context
Relations between Israel and Ukraine have a long history, including support for Ukraine in its struggle for independence. However, such events can undermine trust between countries. Israel, which officially condemns Russia's actions in Ukraine, becomes a platform for Russian soft power.
The Ukrainian diaspora in Israel, numbering tens of thousands of people, openly opposes such initiatives. One activist notes:
“Events like this blur the line between sports and propaganda. Israel must be careful not to become an instrument of Russian politics.”
NAnews: Unanswered questions
Our website NAnews – Israel Newscontinues to monitor the development of this situation. Questions remain open:
- Can Israel maintain a balance between relations with Ukraine and Russia?
- How does participation in such tournaments affect Israel's reputation in the eyes of the international community?
Meanwhile, while Russia enjoys football tournaments in Netanya, its athletes remain isolated from competition in the civilized world.
NAnews — Israel News will closely monitor further developments and their impact on Israeli-Ukrainian relations.
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