Israel Police once again demonstrated that it cannot or will not maintain public order during Jerusalem’s derby matches. Anyone wishing to experience violence or moments of fear need only attend the derby as a clearly identified supporter of Hapoel Jerusalem, the moderate team from Jerusalem, and they will receive it in generous portions. The club attempts to protect its fans, but in my view in a weak and insufficient manner. Yet again, we saw shattered windows, assaulted supporters and property damage simply because they support Hapoel Jerusalem. A disgrace.
The coach Ziv Arie is brave – but where did he go wrong?
On the professional side, coach Ziv Arie again demonstrated his high-level abilities and his courage in taking risks that few other managers would attempt. One example was placing John Otomao in the starting lineup, a player initially brought for the youth squad who, until the derby against Beitar Jerusalem – the right-wing team from Jerusalem – had played only nine matches in the second-tier youth league.
Removing “the banker” Noam Malmud from the lineup, or deploying Ohad Almog as a “false striker”, were also surprising and tactically sharp moves that neutralized an opponent that is, on paper, far stronger. There is no doubt that the standout performer was Ashta Ouka, alongside goalkeeper Nadav Zamir. We have already grown accustomed to his high level of play, and it finally seems that he is translating his enormous potential into consistent performance. One can only hope he maintains this level throughout the season.
Meanwhile, John, Ohad Almog and Yonatan Lish impressed with strong performances, while the duo Guy Badash and Matan Hozez again showed their usual weakness, raising real questions about why they are on the pitch at all.
Ziv Arie’s substitutions, unfortunately not for the first time, cost the team the win and crucial points. The ritual in which a player is immediately substituted after receiving a yellow card is inexplicable – especially when the player is an experienced foreign center-back brought specifically to lead the defense. The return of Tamir Haimovich right after a long injury, replacing Malmud, was also puzzling. Haimovich was directly responsible for several conceded scoring chances, including the penalty he caused.
What agreements exist with the incoming reinforcements?
Despite the encouraging draw against Beitar Jerusalem – a draw that felt like a victory – it is still only one point, and Hapoel Jerusalem’s league position remains grim. A twenty percent success rate in the first round is the mark of a team heading for relegation. There is some comfort in the fact that “the league hasn’t run away”, and the gap from safety is not large.
But all this is meaningless unless Hapoel Jerusalem begins collecting wins, starting this coming Saturday against M.S. Ashdod. Encouraged by recent results, the club announced the signing of Yinon Eliyahu, who will be eligible for Saturday’s match. Reportedly, the club has also reached preliminary agreements with Goni Naor and Eylon Almog to join once the January 2026 transfer window opens, assuming survival prospects remain realistic. According to one claim, Dr. Uri Allon has agreed to help finance the reinforcements after an approach by the club’s leadership.
