“ABBAS is Jewish, Abbas is Jewish,” chanted 41,000 delirious Israelis after the Bnei Sakhnin midfielder had equalised against Ireland at the Ramat Gan Stadium. The irony of it all wasn’t lost on any of them.

TRAWL through your memories of Ireland’s famous away days of the recent past and games like Copenhagen and Seville in ‘93 or Amsterdam and Lisbon in 2001 probably come somewhere near the top of the list.

THE last time Tel Aviv got this excited about a football match in its own back yard the Berlin Wall was still thumbing its grubby nose at the west.

Newcastle defender Robbie Elliott is a major doubt for tonight’s UEFA Cup clash with Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin after being taken ill with a stomach bug in Israel.

Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given was planning to draw on the more colourful experiences of his career as he stepped into the unknown in Israel tonight.

NEWCASTLE boss Graeme Souness found himself the subject of a grilling as he arrived at the Ramat Gan Stadium to complete his preparations for tonight’s UEFA Cup clash with Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin.