The State of Israel changed on October 7.
Everyone, or at least most of them, understand this.
Do the members of the "hard core" in the audiences of Hapoel Tel Aviv and Maccabi Tel Aviv also understand this?
Judging by the football derby held the other day - the answer is, unfortunately, unequivocally no.
But despite the terrible chants (even if they are familiar) last night at Bloomfield Stadium, I want to remain optimistic.
Or about naivety, if you will.
Tomorrow evening, the Tel Aviv basketball derby will be held, probably the most charged game that the entire Israeli sport has to offer.
A game where the records of hatred and ranting have been broken in recent years.
The upcoming derby - the first this season in basketball - is an opportunity for correction.
Even if he hadn't come two days after the Bloomfield events, but even more so now.
This is an opportunity to learn from mistakes and prove that it is also possible otherwise.
An opportunity to embrace the extremely sensitive situation in which the country finds itself and take things in proportion.
Maccabi Tel Aviv fans, photo: Alan Shiver
It is possible that I believe in something that cannot happen, and on Saturday evening we will prove to know that what was will be.
In any case, I would like to use this stage to call the extremists in the stands: it is time for you to take action - or rather, not to take unnecessary actions;
It's time to understand what times we are in and cherish the people and families who sacrificed everything;
It's time to really honor the abductees and their families, for whom a ceremony will be held before the game.
Most of all, it seems, the time has come for them to understand this: the derby is not above everything (even if the lyrics say so) and what happens at the Drive Inn is not the center of the world.
The really important things are far beyond basketball and one kind of rivalry or another.
I hope (perhaps an unrealistic hope) that under the influence of the period the spirits will calm down, that the word restraint will enter the lexicon, and that the displays of hatred that went out of proportion and broke negative records will disappear.
Dear fans, focus on loving your team.
Don't turn on the atmosphere, and don't turn on all kinds of other things.
Make it a different derby, a derby with good news for those who come after it.
Try to think about the following: Yes, there is a lot different between you, but since October 7 - there is also a lot of similarity.
In my dream I see on Sunday the judgment report which is a smooth and white page. A page with nothing written on it. Do I need to sing the song "Ballad of Naive" about me?
The hottest sports articles and updates at your place on Telegram
to join
The last Tel Aviv derby at Shlomo Group Hall.
Will it look different this time?, Photo: Alan Shiver
were we wrong
We will fix it!
If you found an error in the article, we would appreciate it if you shared it with us