Ultras

Ultras - Images by Quique Kierszenbaum

Every weekend every possible conflict in the Israeli society is played out on the pitches and terraces of Israel's premier league. This is where the rivalries and hatreds in Israeli society are exposed in full - and, often, ugly - clarity: Left versus Right, Arabs versus Jews, Mizrahim versus Ashkenazim, insiders versus outsiders.
Israel clubs retain much of the distinctive political, social and ethnic coherence that marked their foundation. Knowledge of a fan's ethnic background, social status and political allegiance will lead to pretty firm conclusions about the club he supports. In the same way, knowing an Israeli's team can give a strong indication about the party he supports, and even his views on the Middle East conflict. Maybe one of the best examples is Beitar Jerusalem, an extremely right wing supporter's team, often very racist, tied with the Likud right wing leading party and even far right other parties . The most popular chant of Beitar fans, that coasted them even points in the league marks their racism: "....This is the Land of Israel/This is the Land of the Jews/I hate you, Salim Touama [an Arab Israeli football player]/I hate all the Arabs...."
As Beitar Jerusalem represents the right wing and Mizrahim (Jews who arrived in Israel from Middle Eastern and northern African countries) supporters, Hapoel Tel Aviv represents the lefty Ashkenazy (Jews of eastern European extraction) fans, and Bnei Sachnin is the only Arab club in the prime league.
"Ultras" is the name used by all radical supporters, "fanatics" of each team, who bring passion, love and hate every weekend to the pitches.

Some of the images from today on " A 100 years of football in Israel", a collective exhibition in Tel Aviv's Israel museum .