A view from Tel Aviv

A must-read piece from someone I know only as a footballer. Until now ...

I have never done this before, so forgive me if its rambling and doesn't make perfect sense. I am not usually one to let people in general know how I feel, but I just needed to get a few things off my chest.

I think I have always felt that I as a Jew was very different to other people I met. I certainly wouldn't say I felt I was better than them, but I definitely felt like I wasn’t one of them.
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I grew up in a typical middle class home in North West London, never really having to worry about much. The concept of anti-Semitism only ever got as bad as some of the kids from the local comprehensive snarling in my general direction. When you compare it is an upbringing to almost all previous generations before me I would say I must have had it far better than almost all those before me, yet I could never shake the feeling that I was still very different.

As I grew older and I started to explore my own identity a little more I realised how much of a strong connection I had to Israel. Whilst I never partook in any type of strong political movement at university, I was always astonished at the strength of hatred that seemed to be directed towards this country that I felt so close too. Anti-Israel demonstrations on campus existed frequently, whilst the Jewish society always tried to create coexistent type rallies.