Celtic star Liel Abada hailed by Israel boss Hazan as he’s a soldier who ‘doesn’t care what people will say about him’
CONTROVERSIAL Israel boss Alon Hazan has spoken of his pride at how Celtic star Liel Abada has dealt with the fall-out from Israel's bombardment of Gaza.
The world has watched the conflict in the Middle East claim tens of thousands of lives as an Israel launched an onslaught of Gaza in retaliation for Hamas atrocities.
That has placed Abada - currently out injured - in a difficult position, with Hoops fans in a ongoing row with club bosses.
While Celtic are adamant their suspension of the fans group has nothing to do with their flying of Palestine flags, a flag relating to a terrorist group was flown at one Hoops match and the club have pleaded with Hoops fans NOT to bring the flags.
The Green Brigade have promised a 'day of action' if there demands are not met, while Hoops boss have claimed that members of the group have told them they want to LEAVE.
The Green Brigade have also previously unfurled a banner which read: "Free Palestine. Victory To The Resistance!".
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Hazan sparked fury recently by calling Celtic fans 'anti-Semitic', with Hoops fans refuted that suggestion about their supporter base.
But he has given a fresh interview - and namechecked the likes of Abada and Spurs winger Manor Solomon, who is also currently injured, as 'soldiers' fighting to show the viewpoint of Israel.
He told SkySports: "They don't care about what people will say about (them)."
"They fight for their people, they fight for their country, because they know what is the truth.
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"So when they keep doing that, I think for me it's a lot different but still, they're another soldier of my country.
"People are fighting in Gaza - Manor and Liel and others are fighting all around the world, to show the (view)point of the Israeli country, the Israeli people and what's happening for us.
"And they don't care if somebody will cut the contract or this kind of thing.
"I'm very proud of them.
"Manor, Liel and other players for us can live very, very proud of yourselves for what you've done for the country."
Hazan will be without Solomon and Abada due to injuries when Israel return to action on Sunday against Kosovo in a previously postponed European Championship qualifier.
Then matches against Switzerland and Romania that were to have been played in Israel will instead be staged in Hungary with survivors of the Hamas attacks flown in as fans.
Hazan said: "Even before wanting to be part of the Euros, this is more important for us that we can be proud of our country and give some happiness to change the atmosphere.
"This is more important than being part of the tournament."
"Don't change your mind depending which country is suffering," said Hazan, who secured Watford's promotion to the Premier League in 1999 by scoring the decisive penalty in a playoff final shootout.
Hazan's own recently married daughter is currently deployed to the border with Gaza after being called up.
He said: "It's very, very, very hard to concentrate on football.
"But there is a bigger mission - bringing Israel back to the global sporting stage.
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"Our country is built from people that keep surviving all these thousands of years.
"We are representing something much bigger than football in Israel."
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