Zero action and zero plan: The Irish boycott is a result of Israeli lawlessness | Lior Rotbart

Lior Rotbart argues that the Irish boycott of the Israeli national football team is a result of a persistent Israeli hasbara (public diplomacy) failure. Irish players took the field with black armbands, bowed their heads during the Israeli anthem, and refused to shake hands with the Israeli players. The gesture received extensive international coverage, and UEFA approved the handshake arrangement in advance. The author sharply criticizes the lack of an Israeli public diplomacy plan. According to him, Israel tends to speak in the language of official statements and international law, while the Palestinian side tells human stories about children, families, and suffering. He calls for presenting the faces and names of the victims of October 7, the hostages, and their families, rather than relying solely on official statements. Rotbart attacks the automatic labeling of criticism as antisemitism, stating that such an outcry is not a work plan and is no substitute for public diplomacy. He notes that the football association could have brought families of hostages to the game, arranged meetings with journalists, and allowed Israeli players to speak in English about human beings. According to him, the Irish came with a clear game plan, while Israel arrived defensive, confused, and devoid of ideas.