Injury-hit World Cup hosts face backlash, ticket fears, and more political fallout

The piece surveys several current Israeli sports and political items, led by a World Cup note about the burden of hosting a tournament when a team is badly hurt. It says that with half the squad injured, hosting the World Cup is no longer so pleasant. The head of the Palestinian Football Association still has not received a visa to enter the World Cup in the United States, adding another layer to the tournament politics.

Another sports reference says there was no way to tell whether viewers were watching the World Cup opener or a tribute evening for Yoram Arbel. In domestic basketball, rockets from Iran shattered Hapoel Jerusalem, and the team received the final signal that its season is over yesterday. In Guadalajara, empty seats renewed concerns about World Cup ticket prices.

The roundup also points to a series of political and public affairs stories. One item says a woman who alleged that Breverman attacked her was seen with bruises on her face after the meeting. Another mentions a 1977 election poster described as an ominous prophecy in a new election feature, while a separate column asks what is so infuriating about a photo of Herzi Halevi published this week.

Additional opinion and review pieces included criticism of a restaurant that does not meet Haim Cohen’s standards and a column by Gideon Levy about a Netanyahu whom the writer describes as transformed from impressive and cautious into a mass murderer thirsty for blood. Another book review says one document is among the most critical for describing Israel in recent years.