In the past year, since Palestine’s qualification to the Asian Cup, the West Bank Premier League has begun to attract attention from various new places around the globe.
Along with scouts from different Arab and East Asian countries, also in Israel, a few curious eyes were opened timidly, craving to know more about the football scenario of the neighbours across the fence.
Hilal Mousa, is an Arab-Israeli from Kfar Manda, who grew up in Hapoel Haifa’s youth team. He played for Hapoel Rishon Lezion, Kfar Qassem and Ahi Nazareth in Israel. During the previous two seasons, he played for Shabab al-Khader from Bethlehem, in the West Bank Premier League. Additionally, he was an important first-team player in the national team of Palestine, where he reached historical peaks for Palestinian football.
In an interview with BabaGol, he explains the differences between the Israeli and Palestinian leagues, the attitude and treatment towards Arab-Israeli players at the West Bank Premier League, the meaning of the national team for the Palestinian people, and situations where he feels at home.
Hilal, Congratulations for your signing with Hapoel Haifa. Are you happy to return to Israeli football?
Thank you. Yes. I am very happy to return to the main stage, especially to the club I grew up in.
What is the level of the Palestinian league in comparison to Israeli football?
The West Bank Premier League is very aggressive competition, where the game is based more on speed and strength, rather than technique. You cannot really compare the two leagues, as most of the pitches in Palestine are turf, so you can never know how the game would have developed if it was on a normal grass pitch. If Maccabi Haifa were playing on turf, I am not sure they were still maintaining such a high level. It works both ways, as if in Palestine there were facilities like the new stadium in Haifa, then the level there could be much higher.
I am sure, the Palestinian league has an excellent resource of players.
Yes. And we have proof- the national team has some excellent games when playing abroad.
True. Now with the return back to Hapoel Haifa, you cannot represent the Palestinian national team anymore. The Palestinian association does not allow it.
No. It would be impossible.
Have you talked to coach Barakat (the Palestinian national team coach) about the transition?
Actually, we did not talk about it. By the way, he is an excellent coach. He really counts on me and loves me. Together, we had a great tournament at the Asian Games in South Korea.
Is it a pity to give up the chance to play for Palestine? You were a significant player there.
Look, I've been with the national team for two of its most historical achievements, which will be remembered forever. The qualification for the Asian Cup for the first time in history, and the round of 16 in the Asian Games, also for the first time in history. I am very satisfied with what I achieved there, but this is my time to move on, since it is very difficult to progress in your career from the Palestinian League. I decided it was time to take one step forward and to return to the Israeli Premiership. From there- the sky is the limit.
But there are players who advanced to mega clubs in the Arab world. Ashraf Nu'man went to al-Faisali from Saudi Arabia, Abdulatif Albahdri at Jordanian al-Wehdat.
I also had offers from a few leagues there, but players with an Israeli passport cannot play in the Arab countries. I had an offer from Qatari Al-Wakrah. We played a friendly against them and I had an impressive match. After the game their directors contacted our management, asking for me and another player, but when they realized that I was an Arab-Israeli, they dropped the matter.
Al-Wakrah is a good team. If there was no issue with your passport, were you going to play there?
Yes, I think so. The Qatari league is a good competition, with European conditions and great salaries.
A while ago I talked with Stefano Cusin, Ahli Khalil’s coach. He said good things about football in the Gulf, in terms of conditions.
He invited me to join his team. They're going now to a training camp in Italy. The first club in Palestine who has a complete foreign staff. They are all Italian, including the assistant coach and the masseur.
Why didn't you go for it? The owner of the club, Kifah Sharif, is known as an excellent boss.
I fulfilled myself in the Palestinian league and I thought about progressing. In the Israeli Premier League, it is an easier platform to stand out and perform, in order to make the breakthrough for your career.
So basically, Arab-Israeli players go to play in Palestine for a good salary, knowing that they have no way to progress in the Arab world, but strengthened towards their return to the Israeli Premiership?
I want to have a great career, in Israel, the options are much larger. There was interest from clubs abroad through a Croatian agent who saw me. He told me that through the Israeli league it will be much easier to advertise me.
If we had gone back in time, and you would get a call-up for the Israeli national team, would you join?
Of course. It is important to understand, it is not like I had an option to decide between the two teams and eventually chose Palestine. I saw it as something that could expose and promote me, so I agreed. It is always good to participate in international matches.
If it was the official Palestinian media asking this question, would you answer the same? The discourse around the national team is different in Palestine.
Look, I'm a professional footballer who is looking to move forward, no matter where. I will take any suggestion that I'll think that it is correct to promote me. At the time, playing for the Palestinian national team was an excellent option for me. Today, I gave up playing for them, as I think that at Hapoel Haifa I can progress more. The consideration was totally professional.
This is clear; my question is whether the participation in the national team was not something symbolic and meaningful for you. Still, it is ‘little Palestine’ qualifying for the Asian Cup. You’ve put Palestine on the international map as a legitimate member between countries such as Japan, Jordan and Iraq. This is exciting, lucrative and certainly a source for pride and motivation. Am I wrong?
Of course. It is something very symbolic to bring joy to so many people, playing for those who do not have any happiness in life apart from football. It was a nice way to make them happy, to gain an achievement that they have never had, to strongly inscribe my name in the history of this nation. Yes, it is indeed very exciting and moving.
Obviously it is . What is the attitude towards Arab-Israeli players in the Palestinian League?
They are considered as stars. They are treated the same as foreign players who arrive in Israel. You receive warmth, love and appreciation. The clubs bring them to lead and to be the main stars of the teams.
And at the teams’ dressing rooms, is the attitude the same?
Yes. They treated us very well. We did not feel we are different from anyone.
Did someone ever bother you for being an Arab-Israeli?
There were few moments like those, yes. But it did not bother me. You cannot neglect that there are many who see us as traitors or just look at us differently, but it never bothered me. You cannot please everyone all the time.
Did you come in contact with Palestinian media?
Yes. I tried to avoid it though. There, you can talk about X, and eventually, it will be subscribed as Y.
At al-Khader you played alongside few more Arab-Israeli players. Have you ever emitted words in Hebrew during a match or at the dressing room?
Sure. I once had a bizarre moment in the national team. During practice, I and another Arab- Israeli player were talking, and I told him in Hebrew- "Well ok". The coach at the time, Jamal Mahmoud, did not like it and told us not to speak Hebrew.
Is he a good coach?
One of the best coaches I had. He is a very fundamental coach, a high-level tactician, who gives players the creative freedom in the offense.
Is it true that Arab-Israeli players speak Hebrew during matches so that players from the other team would not understand?
It is quite normal actually. Many times we spoke Hebrew on exercises so that the opponent won’t understand. It is not so hated there, speaking Hebrew. The owners and manager at al-Khader were speaking fluent Hebrew. They have a real estate business and they are working a lot with the Israelis.
So when talking about contracts and other manners, the dialogue is in Hebrew.
There were times I wanted to talk about the salary and the owner told me, "Talk in Hebrew," to be more discreet.
Do you think that the Arab-Israeli players are actually a kind of ambassadors of Israel, as they travel to play in the Palestinian Leauge?
No, I do not think so. In the eyes of the Palestinians, we are considered Palestinians who live in Israel. Not Israelis.
Do you think it's a shame that the Palestinian Association does not allow players from an Arab-Israeli origin to perform for the Palestinian national team, while they are playing in Israel?
I do not know how it could work. The national team usually plays in mid-season, and then the league is stopped. Clubs in Israel will not allow a player to leave for the national team in the middle of the season.
Why not? African players can travel to play for their national teams in the African Cup of Nations.
There are two or three travels each season. Every journey is about 20 days. Why should a team in Israel sign a player who would fly three times in a season, and would miss almost two months of action? In 2014 I was abroad more than at home.
Is there a way that you think the transfer of players between Israeli and Palestinian leagues could be improved?
In the past, the transition was very messed up. One could have been transferred without discharges and permits. Today it is better organized and synchronized.
Did life in the West Bank make you think about how you define yourself? About where you belong more?
I did not live there. I commuted every day with a car. Israel is my home, no doubt. I am more connected to here.
With a car? And if you were stuck at a checkpoint on the way? No training that day?
It never happened to me there actually.
Well, now you are at Hapoel Haifa, your childhood club, and you’re about to open a new season in Israeli football. Good luck Hilal.
Inchalla, thank you.
The Palestinian League of the West Bank is developing slowly. The Arab-Israeli players’ arrival greatly improved the league and the national team altogether. Players like Fady Zidane, Abdullah Jaber, Ayman Kharbat and more, take the opportunity to earn a good salary and to gain international experience. Nowadays, there are between 40 to 50 Arab-Israelis who play in the Dauri al-Mukhtarifin, and a similar number in the Dauri al-Ikhtiraf al-Jiz'i, the second division. In most cases, they are the leading players in their squads, loved by the fans and earn the highest salaries this league can offer.
The Israeli and Palestinian associations do not allow the participation of the Arab-Israeli players at the national team of their counterparts. An Arab-Israeli who plays in Israel is not allowed to be invited to the Palestinian national team, and vice versa - an Arab-Israeli who will shine in the Palestinian league, will not appear in the Israeli national team.
Arab-Israelis who play abroad make the difference, as both associations would be glad to enjoy the services of its potential legionnaires. As an example, this summer, a few voices among the Palestinians wanted to call-up Marwan Kabha to the national team of Palestine. Marwan is an Arab-Israeli who just left Israeli side Maccabi Petah Tikva to Maribor from Slovenia, and in 2013 was representing the Israel U-21 national team.
Hilal Mousa's transfer is not a precedent, but it points out an interesting phenomenon - the reality which takes place between the fence separating Israel and Palestine. A reality in which Arab players speak Hebrew so their opponent will not understand and also proudly represent the Palestinian people in international matches, but at the same time waiting for a good offer from the Israeli Premier League, where they would receive more exposure, and perhaps will fulfil their dreams, to play in some bigger leagues, far away from the Middle East.