Israeli Sports Stars Reveal Election Choices
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Israeli athletes revealed their election choices on social media during the 26th Knesset elections. Footballer Eran Zahavi endorsed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party, while basketball captain Tomer Ginat voted for Naftali Bennett's "Together" party. Other athletes from football and basketball also shared their support for various parties and candidates, highlighting diverse political views within the sports community. Some athletes, like Munas Dabbur, encouraged voting without disclosing their preference.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Football star Eran Zahavi announced his vote for Prime Minister Netanyahu's Likud party.
- Basketball captain Tomer Ginat voted for Naftali Bennett's "Together" party.
- Several footballers, including Tom Ben Zaken and Amir Agayev, also supported Likud.
- Former footballer Eyal Berkovic endorsed Gadi Eisenkot's "Yashar" party.
- Political divisions were seen within the Buzaglo family, with differing endorsements.
- Munas Dabbur urged the public to vote but did not reveal his choice.
As Israel's 26th Knesset elections unfolded with high voter turnout, prominent athletes across various sports took to social media to share their political endorsements. Football star Eran Zahavi announced his vote for the Likud party, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accompanying his declaration with a message of unity. Netanyahu responded to Zahavi's post with a single word, "King." Several other footballers, including Tom Ben Zaken, Amir Agayev, Ravid Aberjel, Rotem Hatu'el, Ofek Biton, and Michael Ohana, also expressed support for Likud or Netanyahu.
On the opposing side of the political spectrum, Tomer Ginat, captain of the Israeli basketball team, cast his vote for the "Together" party led by Naftali Bennett, stating his hope for a better future. Former national basketball player Raviv Limonad and current player Koren Zourno also voted for Bennett's party. Former footballer Eyal Berkovic declared his support for Gadi Eisenkot and the "Yashar" party, a sentiment echoed by his brother Nir Berkovic. Ex-footballer Uri Ozen explained his vote for Eisenkot, citing his belief in the candidate's character and background.
Further political divisions were evident within sports families. Maor Buzaglo and his wife Miran publicly supported Netanyahu, while his father, former footballer Yaakov Buzaglo, backed Yair Golan's Democratic party. Eliel Peretz, a footballer for Hapoel Be'er Sheva, revealed he voted for the "Amcha Israel" party. Former striker Mohamed Ghadir endorsed the Ra'am party and its representative Yasser Khujirat, with former Hapoel Be'er Sheva player Imran Alkrnawi also voting for the party.
Munas Dabbur, who previously retired from the national team, urged the public to vote without revealing his own choice. Social media activity also revealed differing opinions, with an anonymous user on X reporting a famous former footballer criticizing Netanyahu and the ultra-Orthodox community. While former national team captain Tal Ben Haim and footballer Shay Elias reacted to content from Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, their specific voting choices remain unconfirmed.
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