Protests, strong security measures and thousands of Palestine flags in the visit of the Maccabi of Israel to Baskonia
The Tel Aviv MacCabi is the third team against which Baskonia has played the most times in the Euroleague, where he has competed in each and every one of the 25 editions played. This Friday has been the twentieth visit of the designer of Israel and the second since the beginning in 2023 of the military operation that has left almost 50,000 killed. I ignored some requests for suspension of the meeting, the party has been played with protests outside and inside the Fernando Buesa Aren and that incorporates some Hebrew symbols into its equipment.
Baskonia fans went to the match after having received a long email in which they were notified of “modifications” and “operational changes” without additional explanation. What changes were? The access doors have been limited to four to carry out more exhaustive police and private security controls. That has slowed the entry of the followers, to whom he had begged to go more in advance, up to 90 minutes. The call for a demonstration that has traveled the streets of Vitoria from Zaramaga to Zurbano has also involved cuts to the traffic and suspension of some public transport services. The Vitoria police have redoubled their efforts for it. That march has been seconded by a thousands of people. The organizers have interpreted that the party “bleached to Zionism.” They have illuminated their claims with flares.
But the most striking, obviously, has been security. A source of Ertzaintza indicates that the staff of the mobilized Vitoria police station has “doubled” in relation to a Euroleague party, such as last week against FC Barcelona. The mobile brigade vans (riots) and deployed special intervention units, explosives or canines, among others, have also increased. “Every God is mobilized,” an agent was ironic.
Yes, the visiting club also contributes its own private security, which has made its own sweeps and reviews, although the Basque police have been responsible for shielding both the MacCabi hotel – the NH Chancellor Ayala of the Center – and the journeys as the training and training and , of course, the stay in the pavilion of this team. Outside there was a dozen 'franches' or riot vans. Also three other Mercedes-Benz not labeled intervention. And several cars-patrulla. Many. Inside, on the doors there were uniformed agents by reinforcing the cacheos of private security. In the halls they patrolled more Ertzainas and on the dog-political track. In the enclosure they tried to go unnoticed a handful of countryman officials pertrected with backpacks and other protections or recording videos in the middle of the stands.
The MacCabi has arrived on a white bus. More than half of its template is made up of Israel players, as are a good part of the 'staff' members. Like Shimon Mizrahi, the president, always accompanied by his legendary yellow wool scarf. He has needed police escort. A young woman has called her “genocidal” from far away. In the warm -up of visitors, 'The Killers' has sounded in the background. The striking thing is that local players have also gone in coach and not in their vehicles, as is customary.
Maccabi visits and also their football section to European countries drag a news history of special deployments and security reinforcements. Also of controversies. In the Basketball Euroleague, Russia clubs were immediately separated from the competition as soon as the invasion of Ukraine began. With the MacCabi, on the other hand, the same has not happened, although the house matches are not played in Israel but behind closed doors in Belgrade. “Out of Europe” is a recurring song in the stands of Buesa Arena. So far this year, this club has also visited Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, the other two ACB teams in the maximum European competition. There has also been discussed about the presence of this symbol of Israeli soft power. The Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, who asked not to mix policy and sport.
However, for activists who distributed Palestinian flags at the door the match had a lot of politics. They have printed 5,000 of those teachers. His proposal was to show them repeatedly. They have succeeded. The dead times – in which there have been no games or activities beyond music – have been a continuous exhibition of these flags. Indar Baskonia, the animated stand, wanted to arrive with the party started as a sign of protest. But he has not finally entered at any time. They have denounced on social networks that Ertzaintza has taken away some support banners to Palestine and have chosen to be absent throughout the event.
Thus, the decibels in the Buesa Arena have been much less than on other occasions. During the game, the rest of the stands has denounced the genocide in Gaza. A week ago Baskonia asked for megaphony to avoid slogans against Israel. The protests have won in intensity towards the end of the party and has chanted, again, the “Maccabi, outside of Europe.” And also “Palestine, Askatu!”
Baskonia has won 89 to 82 to its visitors. Then, at a press conference, the Israeli coach of the MacCabi, Oded Kattash, has offered a generic response asked about the environment and reception. The local coach, Pablo Laso, has admitted that it has been a rare day. “All this has not helped the team has made their best game,” he said. At 23.00, Ertzaintza has reported that no remarkable incidence has been recorded throughout the day.
