Mohamed Salah Interview on Israeli Public Broadcaster Sparks Controversy Over His Political Views

Following Egypt's historic qualification to the FIFA World Cup round of 16, Israeli public broadcaster Kan11 correspondent Uri Levy interviewed Egyptian football star Mohamed Salah. The interview, conducted after Egypt's 4-2 penalty shootout win over Australia, focused on Salah's status as Egypt's greatest footballer. However, the controversy arose not from the questions but from the fact that Salah, a Liverpool player known for his past anti-Israel stances, appeared on Israeli media.

Salah has previously refused to travel to Israel for a Champions League qualifier against Maccabi Tel Aviv and declined to shake hands with Israeli players. He has tweeted support for the Palestinian cause and criticized Israel, including a notable tweet questioning the death circumstances of a Palestinian national team player, which drew FIFA's attention. In October 2023, instead of condemning a Hamas attack, Salah condemned Israel's response in Gaza, leading critics to label him a clear supporter of terrorism.

Yoseph Haddad, an Arab-Israeli social activist, condemned Kan11 for giving Salah a platform, calling it a disgrace and warning against providing airtime to "anti-Israel and antisemitic" figures. Haddad predicted Salah would disavow the interview if the Arab media learned of it. Conversely, journalist Zion Nanus defended Uri Levy, praising his professionalism and stating the interview was a legitimate journalistic effort rather than a provocation. Nanus noted that top Israeli football clubs generally avoid signing Arab or Muslim players and that many Israeli football fans dismiss Salah's past political statements as youthful mistakes.

The incident highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding Salah's political views and the sensitivities of Israeli media engaging with prominent Arab figures who have expressed anti-Israel sentiments. The debate continues over the appropriateness of such interviews on Israeli public platforms amid the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict.