The Arab Hornet in the Israel national team
The “enemy” on your team
03/26/2022, 09:02 AM
Hoffenheim striker Monas Dabour considered resigning from the Israel national team. Because of his Arab origins, he was frequently attacked, booed, or humiliated in his homeland. The past year in particular has been an emotional time for Wasp.
Sports and politics cannot be separated as neatly as many officials would like. Monas Dabre managed to sing a song about her for a long time. Born in Nazareth, the professional player for German football club TSG Hoffenheim rushes to Israel. Because he belongs to the country’s Arab Muslim minority, he has repeatedly been subjected to hostilities in his homeland – and is therefore considered resigned.
“It was a moving time for me,” Dabour said of May and June 2021. After a critical post on Instagram about the serious riots between Jews and Muslims on the Temple Mount, in which many Arabs were injured, he felt especially intensely angry in the spirit of the people.
“It was unbelievable, people from all over the country attacked me,” he said, and Dabour was booed in the national jersey and insulted on social networks. He was sidelined for two games and “was about” to retire from Nivheret Hatchelet (Team Blue Sky). “But I was encouraged by a lot to keep giving everything,” he said.
He does – and meets more than ever. While Dabbur is going through tough times at Hoffenheim alongside Andrej Kramaric, Christoph Baumgartner, Ihlas Bebou and Georginio Rutter, he has been successful for Israel in five of his six international matches since his creative hiatus. Also in a 5:2 surprise in the World Cup qualifiers against Austria.
There are no quarrels between Jews and Muslims in the team
Needless to say, the 29-year-old would also like to score in his ‘personal match’ at home to Israel on Saturday (8.45pm/ZDF) against Germany at Sinsheim. “This is an exceptional and special situation for me,” he said.
Hansi Flick warned Dabbur – and revealed interesting details. The national team coach said: “I have it in my Komonio team. Unfortunately he didn’t score enough points there, so he can do some other things at Hoffenheim. But it doesn’t have to start tomorrow.”
Dabour said Israel was “in a kind of transitional phase” after it missed the World Cup finals again. Interim coach Gadi Bromer was only recently appointed. “We want to present ourselves as strong competitors, but we also know who we are facing,” said Wasp, who is the best player alongside Shakhtar Donetsk left winger Manor Solomon.
Dabour emphasized that the differences between Jews and Muslims do not exist (anymore) in the team: “We are a team with a common goal.” That means the DFB-Elf stumbled — gladly the target of Dabbur.