Football's Fleeting Promise in a Divided Land The summer of 2023 was supposed to be Israel's moment of footballing glory.
The under 20 national team had defied expectations by beating global powerhouses like Brazil and impressing audiences worldwide with their skill and cohesion on the pitch.
For five days, it seemed as if nothing else mattered in Israel – not politics, not conflict, just the beautiful game. But that was before October 7th.