Sunday July 18, 2021
I've Been Thinking:

Beitar Yerushalim, an internationally competitive soccer team, was to host Barcelona in a scrimmage match leading up to the World Cup which is known around the world as the Mondial.

Barcelona asked for a change of venue.

They did not want to play in Beitar’s home city - Jerusalem. They thought that playing in Jerusalem would give credence to the Israeli occupation of the city.
Barcelona wanted to play elsewhere – preferably in Tel Aviv.
Instead of collapsing under international pressure, Beitar’s owner, Moshe Hogeg, simply cancelled the match.

Hogeg was stunned that Barcelona played a “political card” - a very harsh political card, but Hogeg and Beitar would not be pressured.

This is a point of principle.

Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. Jerusalem is not an occupied city. If there were to be any discussion at all, it would be about East Jerusalem, not about West Jerusalem.

Barcelona was way out of line.

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