Editor's Notes: Countries didn't ban athletes from flying to Israel, they let the paperwork do it

The opening ceremony of the Maccabiah Games in Israel was a spectacle of unity and remembrance, featuring performances by Idan Raichel and Daniella Gilboa, a former Gaza hostage. Tributes were paid to victims of the October 7 attacks and wounded soldiers, with families of Druze children killed and a paratrooper wounded on October 7 carrying the torch.

However, beneath the celebratory surface, a stark reality emerged: the diminished presence of international athletes. Notably, Australia withdrew its entire delegation of approximately 300 athletes and staff due to Canberra's "do not travel" advisory for Israel. The few Australians who marched did so as individuals on borrowed teams, a significant departure for a community that has historically sent large, proud contingents.

This decline in participation is directly linked to official travel warnings. The decision by countries to not explicitly ban athletes but to let bureaucratic paperwork and advisories deter them has created a chilling effect. The author reflects on the historical significance of the Maccabiah Games, recalling earlier delegations who rode thousands of kilometers to invite Jewish people to compete in the Land of Israel, contrasting it with the current climate that keeps participants away.

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come to the Land of Israel, come compete.