Politicians Attend Soccer Match Amid Election Campaign, Netanyahu Skips
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not attend a Beitar Jerusalem soccer match on Monday, despite expectations, just a week before the elections. Other politicians, including Ministers Nir Barkat and Itamar Ben-Gvir, attended the game, which ended in a 0-0 tie. The "Yesh!" party and some fans criticized the potential for political exploitation of the event. The Football League Management had issued directives against political activity during matches.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu skipped a Beitar Jerusalem soccer match despite expectations, a week before elections.
- Ministers Nir Barkat and Itamar Ben-Gvir attended the Beitar Jerusalem vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv game.
- The match ended in a 0-0 draw, with politicians' presence drawing criticism from a rival party and fans.
- Shaul Meredor of the "Yesh!" party called Netanyahu's potential attendance "transparent" and "ridiculous."
- Football League Management prohibited political activity during the game.
Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem became a focal point for Israeli politicians on Monday, just one week before the 26th Knesset elections, as Beitar Jerusalem hosted Maccabi Tel Aviv. While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a declared fan of Beitar Jerusalem, was expected to attend a team match for the first time since March 2021, he ultimately did not show up despite preparations for his visit.
Several politicians did attend the game, which ended in a 0-0 draw. Among them were Minister of Economy and Industry Nir Barkat and Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, both supporters of Beitar Jerusalem. Also present were former journalist and Likud list candidate Yaakov Bardugo, a Maccabi Tel Aviv fan, and Shaul Meredor, a Knesset candidate for Gadi Eisenkot's "Yesh!" party.
Meredor had previously criticized the possibility of Netanyahu's attendance, calling it "so transparent, so disgusting" and "ridiculous" that the Prime Minister would appear a week before elections after a five-year absence from soccer games. He also commented on Barkat's attendance, stating it was legitimate for him to support Beitar Jerusalem.
According to a Channel Sport report by Noa Poplinger, Ben-Gvir requested to go down to the field and enter the eastern stand, but Beitar Jerusalem objected. This occurred against the backdrop of directives from Erez Halfon, Chairman of the Football League Management, prohibiting political activity during matches.
The potential presence of the Prime Minister had already caused controversy before the game. The "Yesh!" party sent a warning letter to Channel Sport demanding they prevent election propaganda broadcasts during the match and threatened to approach the Central Elections Committee. Some Beitar Jerusalem fans also expressed opposition to political presence at the stadium during the election period, with a post on the "Beitar Jerusalem - The Flower in My Garden" fan page stating that Teddy Stadium is not a branch of any party and Beitar is not a backdrop for election campaigns.
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