A run for unity in Jerusalem by Ruth Eglash - Common Ground News Service

A run for unity in Jerusalem

by Ruth Eglash

26 February 2013

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Jerusalem – Thousands of runners will flood the streets of Jerusalem and enjoy its spectacular views this week when they take over the city during the third annual marathon.

While the race is not without its controversy – some are critical of the fact that the 42-kilometer route will pass through areas of the city considered Palestinian land and under Israeli occupation – the atmosphere for athletes and spectators is likely, once again, to be electric.

“It’s a breath-taking marathon and a unique adventure,” claims Ilanit Melchior, Tourism Director of the Jerusalem Development Authority, which is helping to organize the event. “It’s very different to other marathons because runners come more to enjoy the feeling of being in Jerusalem than to compete against each other.”

Jerusalem’s mayor, Nir Barkat, who will be running in the half-marathon event, said in a recent interview: “It’s a beautiful race and that is how it will stay, it unites all of Jerusalem’s residents and everyone enjoys it regardless of race or religion.”

Jews, Muslims and Christians alike will be among the 17,000 runners, who are planning to come from more than 52 nations in Africa, South America and Europe, as well as from countries with which Israel has more tense ties such as Jordan and Turkey. Overall, some 1,600 foreigners will take part, alongside a diverse array of Israelis, including some from East Jerusalem.

With this unifying tone, the event could truly have gone the distance if there were Palestinians from the West Bank running too. Maybe this is something that should be considered in the future?

Even with its limitations, the Jerusalem marathon still comes in stark contrast to the state of local soccer, where in a series of incidents earlier this month, including the burning down of the Beitar Jerusalem clubhouse and museum, angry fans responded harshly to two Muslim players from Chechnya that recently joined the team.

When Zaur Sadayev and Gabriel Kadiev joined the team in late January, fans immediately made their displeasure known by chanting racist slogans against the players during their initial matches.

Israeli investigative news program, “Fact,” featured an in-depth report on how Sadayev and Kadiev were facing constant harassment from certain fans and their families in Chechnya had expressed concern over the two men’s safety.

Authorities also took threats against the players seriously, assigning them bodyguards and, with tensions high, sending in hundreds of police officers to patrol games, especially during a recent match between Beitar and its Arab-Israeli rivals, Bnei Sakhnin.

Reacting strongly to threats by fans, club officials and politicians from across the spectrum spoke out against such extremism.

While Jerusalem police announced last week that two fans had been arrested for the arson attack, a lot more needs to be done to fight this phenomenon. It is clear that racism on the side-lines of the soccer field has no place in Israeli sport or society.

In Britain, where fans and players have also been guilty of racist sentiments both on and off the field, a football fan was fined earlier this month for shouting anti-Semitic abuse at a player. Although only a minimal act of justice, it is still a start in the battle against sports fans that turns pleasure into hate.

The images of Jerusalem soccer fans abusing the two Chechen players are hard to shake and some will argue that the episode is not surprising or that this is not the first time Beitar Jerusalem supporters have spouted such attitudes towards Muslims. Others will say it is symptomatic of Israeli society and the on-going conflict with the Palestinians.

That could all be true to some degree but dwelling on it for too long without constructive action is also not conducive to change. It is time to look forward and use this specific case as a starting point to root out racism in Israeli sports or elsewhere.

In the same vein, it is also useful to look at and learn from sports and other projects that bridge cultural and religious divides. In my own hometown, just outside of Jerusalem, there is a mixed Arab and Jewish team made up of local soccer enthusiasts. They practice and play together regularly. Granted the team is not at the top of the soccer league, but it is an example of how passion for the sport can bring people of different backgrounds together.

Additionally, events such as the Jerusalem marathon could be used to show how sports can overcome differences and unite people. Instead of criticizing the marathon, boycotting it on political grounds or not making more of an effort to include people from “the other side,” the run could be used to highlight passion for sport regardless of race or religion.

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* Ruth Eglash is the former Deputy Managing Director of The Jerusalem Post, and now contributes to a variety of international news agencies and publications. She lives just outside of Jerusalem. This article was written for the Common Ground News Service (CGNews).

Source: Common Ground News Service (CGNews), 26 February 2013, www.commongroundnews.org
Copyright permission is granted for publication.


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