The Israeli national team, which hasn't taken part in an Olympic football tournament since 1976, kicks off the competition this Wednesday evening against Mali at the Parc des Princes, under very heavy protection and in a tense atmosphere.
Their coach arrived at 10.25 am on Tuesday morning, under a light drizzle and almost an hour behind schedule. And, there were as many security guards as journalists on hand to watch the Israeli footballers disembark for training at the Croissy-sur-Seine sports park (Yvelines), wearing blue kit and a flag with the Star of David over their hearts. The squad arrived in Paris on July 19, and this was already the fourth session for Guy Luzon's (48) players.
At the Olympics, football comes first, but only in the calendar: the Olympic tournament kicks off this Wednesday, and Israel, which has not taken part since the Montreal Games in 1976, faces Mali this Wednesday evening (9 pm) at the Parc des Princes.
Close protection and earpieces
In front of the Croissy stadium, the parking lot was deserted: a municipal by-law prohibits parking and traffic between July 11 and August 14. First comes searches. Then, near the handrail, silent, muscular men with thin earpieces or banana bags slung over their shoulders, the opening of which was immediately at hand.
An attaché from the Israeli Embassy in France is present, plainclothes agents converse in Hebrew and French, and police officers from the SDLP (Service de la protection), responsible for the close security of foreign guests or persons under special threat, complete the scenery under surveillance.
ALSO READ | India at Paris Olympics: Full schedule; Date-wise and sport-wise list
Minister of the Interior of France Gérald Darmanin explained on Monday that he had "asked the "National Gendarmerie Intervention Group to be present 24 hours a day" with the members of the Israeli delegation, including the referees, as "the threat to them is very high"; a decision was taken two weeks ago.
The DGSI (Direction Générale de la Sécurité Intérieure) has classified "at-risk ” delegations according to these multifaceted threats: Israel is obviously at the top of this table, as are the United States, Iran and Ukraine. In the view of the authorities and the intelligence services, the Mali-Israel match was also highlighted. "It's being particularly closely watched,” admitted Darmanin. It's a geopolitical meeting that can give rise to challenges of all kinds." Previously contacted, the Israeli authorities are sticking to their traditional position: “No comment on security issues”.
On July 20, at a pro-Palestinian rally in Paris, French MP Thomas Portes explained that "Israeli athletes are not welcome" at the Olympics, calling for “mobilizations”. These comments were described as “despicable” by the Minister of the Interior, who deplored the “target put on the back” of the athletes concerned.
The consequences of the Hamas-Israel war since October 7, and its controversial importation onto European soil, have also led to an unprecedented situation, at the toxic confluence of sport, politics and international tensions: faced with the refusal of Brussels and then other Belgian cities to host the Belgium-Israel Nations League match on September 6, the match has finally been relocated to Debrecen in Hungary, and will take place behind closed doors.
The pressure is on: on Monday, the Palestinian Committee appealed to the IOC, calling for the “immediate exclusion” of Israeli athletes from the Games. Iran, which does not recognize Israel, its sworn enemy, followed suit on Tuesday with a similar request.
On X (ex-Twitter), its Foreign Minister said that these 88 athletes “do not deserve to be present at the Paris Olympics because of the war against the innocents of Gaza”. Questioned on these subjects at an IOC press conference on Tuesday evening, German President Thomas Bach reaffirmed a “very clear position”.
"We have two national Olympic committees (Palestinian and Israeli) living in peaceful coexistence, and that's the difference with the world of politics," said Bach. The Games are not a competition between countries but between athletes. If we were to get into considerations of war and conflict, Friday's opening ceremony would not be with 206 delegations, but with a hundred or so..."
In the same vein, the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) had already called for Israel's "immediate suspension" from FIFA in mid-May, urging the world body and its president, Gianni Infantino, to "stand on the right side of history". On July 19, FIFA again postponed its vote on the request, arguing that both parties had asked for more time to prepare their arguments.
The President of the State of Israel at the Park
Against this tense backdrop, there was very little room for questions on Tuesday to gauge the state of mind of Israel's Espoirs, on the eve of their first group match against their Malian counterparts, whose country broke off diplomatic relations with the Hebrew state in January 1973.
ALSO READ | How is Paris Olympics 2024 dealing with Covid threat?
"Not about politics or security, otherwise we'll stop,” warned the team's media manager from the outset. French-Israeli defensive midfielder Ethane Azoulay (22, Maccabi Haifa) was keen to take the sting out of the atmosphere: "We don't care (about the context)," he said. We're not looking. We're focused on the competition, we're training hard and we're ready. And it's extraordinary to be in the Olympic Village."
Oscar Gloukh (20), the Red Bull Salzburg midfielder, said the same: “We feel good here, we're hoping for a great tournament and we've prepared for that”- and Omri Gandelman (24), the Ghent defender:“It's incredible to be here, at the Games, in Paris,” said the Israeli captain. We're very happy, but we've got a job to do, we've come to achieve great things with this team."
As far as the security arrangements at the Parc are concerned, “it's a big deal”, confirmed a police source. The Israeli players will obviously benefit from an escort. On Tuesday evening, the Israeli authorities confirmed that Isaac Herzog, President of the State of Israel, would be present at the stadium for the match. He will also attend the opening ceremony on Friday.
(L'Équipe)
