"I've talked to the people close to me in Israel and they tell me how hard these times are," Levan Mercer, one of Israel's greatest basketball players, told Israel Hayom in an emotional conversation from the United States. His call throughout the interview is, "Be together to get through these tough times."
Mercer, perhaps the best center to have played here, spent his entire career in Israel - 14 seasons in total. Although he began his career in the Holy Land in the red uniform of Hapoel Tel Aviv, he became more identified with the yellow ones of the city's sworn rivals, Maccabi Tel Aviv. The legendary Mercer has 79 caps for the Israeli national team. Today, the 64-year-old former center works in insurance.
Mercer used to work in advocacy for Israel, but says the work came to an end a few years ago, when the ambassadors changed. Now, against the backdrop of an iron sword war, Mercer is ready to enlist: "If they approach me, I will do whatever is necessary for Israel's advocacy."
In the meantime, and even though he doesn't have an official role in the field, the former star is doing his private advocacy. He was recently interviewed by one of the television networks in the United States to talk about what has been happening in Israel over the past month and a half. "It's a tragedy that the world can't understand," he says.
Mercer with Adam Silver, Photo: Private
From your experience in advocacy, why is public opinion biased against Israel even after such a massacre?
"Israel is perceived as strong, with a large army, with the most advanced weapons. The Palestinians are perceived as weak. It is difficult to explain Israel's position in the world. It is difficult to explain what Israel went through. I also think that Israel is not working correctly in this area. You need people with experience to take it on."
Mercer sees what happened on October 7 as a bright red light for the entire world: "People, including here in the United States, don't see the big picture. There are terrorists everywhere. What happened in Israel is not only Israel's problem, it's the problem of the whole world. What happened is a great challenge for the world to be and act together. Everyone needs to open their eyes."
Mercer in action in a Maccabi Tel Aviv uniform, photo: Moshe Shai
How did you feel when you saw what happened on October 7?
"Great pain and sorrow. The people in Israel are my brothers and sisters. Beyond that, I didn't understand how such a thing could happen, how they let such a thing happen, and when it did, why it took so long to save people. I hope everything ends quickly and you do what needs to be done. The most important thing is to be a family. What was in the past can no longer be restored, but it is important to build a better future."
What is your message to people in Israel?
"I pray for all those who lost loved ones and for all the families whose relatives were kidnapped to Gaza. I pray that everyone will return home soon. They go through the hardest times. I call on people: Take care of these people, be with them. I call on the entire basketball family to give everything during these times."
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Just before the conversation ends, Mercer wants to deliver one last moving message: "Thank you for letting me live among you for 15 years. I was blessed to have been in Israel for such a long time. I ask you to be together. There is no time for disagreements between you. This is your time to fight and defend yourself."
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