Like NFL Stars, Arab Israeli Athletes Should Take A Knee

posted on: Aug 2, 2018

SOURCE: FORWARD

BY: FAHOUM FAHOUM

Israel’s newly-passed law defines Israel as a nation-state solely for the Jewish people.

It anchors Israel as a Jewish, non-democratic state, declares Hebrew as the sole official language, and deprives Palestinian Israelis of the rights to equal citizenship and self-determination. The means that, even though Palestinian citizens of Israel are one-fifth of the total population, to be Israeli is to be Jewish. Otherwise, you do not belong.

To stand up to this injustice, Palestinian-Israeli athletes must kneel.

I always found it hard to belong. As a young tennis player, I represented Israel in international tournaments, which welcomed delegations with opening ceremonies, complete with flag-waving and national anthems.

Israel’s national anthem speaks of a yearning Jewish soul, and somehow, Palestinian-Israelis are expected to sing along with authenticity and pride.