Dozens of positions were deployed throughout the city of Glasgow today (Saturday), on the eve of the game with Israel, including anti-Israel activists and signs: "FREE GAZA" ("Liberate Gaza").
On the other hand, attempts to balance the picture, with pro-Israel organizations explaining: "Free Gaza from Hamas, not Israel."
Scottish citizens are more interested in the Palestinian side, Israel for them is the "occupier", the bad side in the story.
In one of them, without introducing me as an Israeli journalist, the man explained with a smile: "Israel commits crimes against humanity, it takes care of killing children, here you see (holding a picture in hand), a soldier aiming a weapon at an innocent Palestinian child."
This is the picture that is painted here in the local media most days of the year, and it is quite difficult to deal with it.
Scottish flags on the streets, Photo: Liav Nachmani,
In the pro-Israel position, one explanation: Hamas is responsible for the suffering of Gaza residents, not Israel.
When I asked why they did not explain the firing from the Gaza Strip on Israel or the complicated Israeli reality, a guy named Adam explained: "It cannot be explained here. They want to liberate Gaza, so we explain that in order to liberate it, we need to solve the problems with Hamas, which is "
All this is happening, as mentioned, when tonight Scotland will host Israel at the "Hampden Park" stadium.
Demonstrations are expected outside the stadium under the auspices of the BDS organization, such as have been in the past in Scotland before the local team's games against Israel.
The local police are preparing accordingly and in a statement issued, they will not allow the introduction of Palestinian flags into the stadium, although this is something that is very difficult to prevent.
From all this, the players of the Israeli national team will have to disconnect when they get on the grass, because in the end, they are here to play football.
Scottish fans.
Want victory, Photo: Liav Nachmani,
Photo: Liav Nachmani,