In an earlier article I expressed the opinion that under the current circumstances I didn’t feel Liverpool should have to travel to Israel for the second leg of their forthcoming CL tie with Haifa.
However, the tentacles of the Vital Network spread ever wider and that article was read by a fellow Red fan from Israel, which prompted him to send me a letter with an alternative view point on this subject.
I’ve had to give this one some thought as I don’t like to get involved in politics and I’m a little uneasy about some of the non football content but I’ve decided to copy the whole letter below and let you judge for yourself.
A Letter from a Liverpool FC fan from Israel
Hello dear friends!!
My name is Arik. I’m 28 years old Israeli, and this year I celebrate 20 years as an LFC fan. It started in the great double in 86 while I watched live in Israel the memorable 3-1 FA Cup Final vs Everton. Since then I swear to the Reds!!!
As you know, the Reds are one of the most popular and supported football clubs in Israel, until now, despite the fact that LFC didn`t take the local Championship in England since 1989/90. The fact that hundreds of Israeli LFC fans traveled to Istanbul to the CL Final vs Milan (much more than Israeli Milan fans) emphasizes it greatly. In the 80`s the Reds used to come many times to vacations and friendly games in Israel, every time our national stadium was full.
I want to talk about the forthcoming game vs Macabi Haifa, in the CL 3rd qualifying round, the 2nd leg – will it be in Israel?
I think that especially now it`s very important that Liverpool will come to play in Israel, to prove to Hezbollah, and to all the terror organizations, that terror doesn`t affect the routine. The LFC board statement that the 2nd leg vs M. Haifa won`t be in Israel gives strength for any organization which comes out strongly against the free world. Sport must win politics anytime, and we must achieve that goal.
Israel started this war after Hezbollah kidnapped 2 Israeli soldiers that were within the Israeli borders, not across the border.
I`m not a M. Haifa’s fan and I don’t live in Haifa, the 3rd largest city of Israel. Haifa City and many M. Haifa fans suffer a lot from this war. Hezbollah, unlike the Israeli Defense Forces (the IDF), shoots rockets into civilian/urban areas, in purpose of killing a lot of people here in the Holy-Land. Our IDF always tries and makes many efforts not heart civilians in Lebanon, and anywhere. Did you hear about an army which warned his enemy like the IDF?? Do you know an army that “parachuted” fliers/warning papers before his attacks?? UK didn`t do so in Iraq and US army has never done it!
There is no other choice while terror bases are near or inside urban areas like in Lebanon. After these facts the entire world criticizes Israel, the only free and democratic country in the Middle East, which only wants to defend itself from terror.
The Israeli government promises a full security guarantee to any sport club/team that agrees to play in Israel. Despite this, UEFA has decided that Israeli teams can’t host their home games in Israel. This decision serves the evil forces which want absolute destruction of Israel and even the Jewish people too.
This security situation is temporary, and I hope, like almost every logical person, that this little war will be ended soon. In the last years few big cities in Europe suffered from heavy terror attacks: The bombs in London, in the underground, the attack in the theatre in Moscow and massive terror attacks in Istanbul, Madrid and other places. Did anyone in UEFA think transferring football games from these cities?? I don’t think so.
I guess that this decision came as an European negative reaction to Israel defense actions in Lebanon, while Israel fights against a cruel terror organization, and any terror organization must be destroyed. The free world can’t continue living alongside these terror organizations and still stay apathetic. Israel, in a specific aspect, fights for the free world, and must get a support due to its efforts. You must realize that Israel uses its army as the last resort.
Back to football: Liverpool FC and its wonderful fans are welcome in Israel. It can be a fantastic experience to meet and see LFC. The result must be on the field not by politics. If the 2nd leg will be out of Israel, it`ll give the Reds a big additional advantage, beside all they already have. Let us enjoy the Reds in Israel, and let me share with you in a little historical fact. 4 years ago Haifa was the first Israeli team who qualified to CL group stage. Because of the security situation, Haifa was enforced hosting all its home games outside Israel, and they chose Cyprus, GSP stadium at Nicosia. One of the games was vs Man. Utd. The result was amazing, 3-0 to Haifa. It means that Haifa can win almost every team, everywhere.
In expectation to see Liverpool, and all teams here in Israel,
Arik Dua
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