In Israel, Mayor Motti Sasson of Holon, a suburb of Tel Aviv, stirred controversy by making derogatory remarks about black basketball players on local teams. During a sports conference at an Israeli university, Sasson expressed his preference for Israeli players, stating, “I don’t want to see strangers. I want to see Israeli players.” He further added, “If you want to see Negroes, you have the NBA for that,” referring to the National Basketball Association in the United States.
These comments were met with outrage, with many condemning them as racist. In response to the backlash, Sasson apologized, acknowledging that his choice of words was inappropriate and expressing that he meant to refer to foreign players.
The incident has sparked discussions about racism in sports and the need for accountability. Comparisons have been drawn to instances of anti-Semitic behavior, such as the controversial quenelle gesture made by a French player, which resulted in severe consequences. The question arises: why aren’t similar reactions seen for racist behavior targeting players of color?
Tags: Anti-Semitism basketball Israel Jerusalem Motti Sasson NBA Black Negroes Quenelle racism Tel Aviv
