Stills among players refusing Israel trip

Miami Dolphins receiver Kenny Stills was one of a half dozen NFL players who pulled out of what was intended to be a goodwill trip to Israel.

Only five of 11 players in the delegation showed up after being blitzed by Palestinian activists opposed to the visit.

Stills, an impending free agent expected to land a lucrative contract when free agency begins March 7, was not available for comment.

Gilad Erdan, Israel’s ministry for strategic affairs and public diplomacy, sent a news release saying the visit was designed to turn the NFL players into “influencers” who would become “goodwill ambassadors” for Israel upon their return to the United States.

That announcement prompted Seattle Seahawks defense end Michael Bennett to pull out of the trip. In a lengthy Twitter post, the outspoken Pro Bowler accused the government of trying to use him for public relations purposes and cited sympathy for the Palestinians.

“I was not aware that my itinerary was being constructed by the Israeli government for the purposes of making me, in the words of a government official, an ‘influencer and opinion-former’ who would then be ‘an ambassador of goodwill,’ Bennett said.

“I will not be used in such a manner. When I do go to Israel — and I do plan to go — it will be to see not only Israel but also the West Bank and Gaza so I can see how the Palestinians, who have called this land home for thousands of years, live their lives. I want to be a voice for the voiceless, and I cannot do that by going on this kind of trip to Israel.”

Stills retweeted an open letter from thenation.com that encouraged the players to pull out of the trip. That letter addressed the viewpoint that for decades Palestinians have fought against the same policies people are protesting in cities across the United States.

Stills — who caught 42 passes for 726 yards and led the Dolphins with nine touchdown receptions last season — was one of four Dolphins who took a knee during the national anthem to create awareness about social injustice in America during the season-opener. He and safety Michael Thomas were the only two Dolphins who knelt for every regular-season game.

Stills was the Dolphins’ 2016 recipient of the Nat Moore Community Service Award. He worked intimately with RISE, a nonprofit organization started and funded by Dolphins owner Steve Ross that is dedicated to harnessing the unifying power of sports to improve race relations and drive social progress.

According to the Times of Israel, Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell, Raiders defensive tackle Dan Williams, Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan, Titans tight end Delanie Walker and Eagles linebacker Mychal Kendricks were the five players who did attend the trip, which has already begun.

Bennett, Stills, Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril, 49ers tailback Carlos Hyde, Broncos tailback Justin Forsett, and retired NFL linebacker Kirk Morrison were originally scheduled to participate but did not make the trip.

BILL WIPPERT/AP Miami Dolphins wide receiver Kenny Stills pulled out of a scheduled trip to Israel by 11 NFL players when he learned Israel’s expectations on what the players were expected to do upon returning home.