Bennett-led boycott throws Israel for a loss
Only five of 11 ‘influencers’ make goodwill trip after Palestinian activists protest
JERUSALEM— It was supposed to be a feel-good visit by a group of professional football players to give a boost to image-conscious Israel.
But in an embarrassing fumble by the Israeli government, only five of 11 NFL players in the delegation showed up after being blitzed by Palestinian activists opposed to the visit.
Israel’s ministry for strategic affairs and public diplomacy issued a press release after the Super Bowl boasting that the visit would bring “influencers” who would be “goodwill ambassadors” after returning home.
The announcement led Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett to withdraw. In a Twitter post, he accused the government of trying to use him for PR purposes and cited sympathy for the Palestinians.
“I will not be used in such a manner,” he wrote, adding that he still intends to visit Israel, but on a trip that includes stops in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to meet Palestinians.
Citing the example of Muhammad Ali and the late boxing legend’s support for the Palestinians, Bennett said he too wants to be a “voice for the voiceless.”
“I cannot do that by going on this kind of trip to Israel,” he said.
At the delegation’s first official stop at Rambam Hospital in Haifa, only five players were present, said hospital spokesperson David Ratner.
Among those who also dropped out were Bennett’s brother Martellus, of the New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins receiver Kenny Stills, Seahawks’ Cliff Avril, San Francisco 49er Carlos Hyde and Justin Forsett of the Denver Broncos.
Public Diplomacy Minister Gilad Erdan had stated the NFL players would help boost Israel’s image and counter the influence of an international boycott.
“I hope that, through their visit, they will get a balanced picture of Israel, the opposite from the false incitement campaign that is being waged against Israel around the world,” he said. “I hope that the players will present the beautiful face of Israel to their tens of millions of fans in the United States.”
Since Bennett’s post on Saturday, the ministry has gone silent. After promising various updates on the delegation, Revital Yakin-Karkovsky, the executive director for communications and strategy in the ministry, said Wednesday it would not comment on the visit.
The five players who made the trip — Delanie Walker of the Tennessee Titans, Mychal Kendricks of the Philadelphia Eagles, Cameron Jordan of the New Orleans Saints, Calais Campbell of the Arizona Cardinals and Dan Williams of the Oakland Raiders — have also noticeably kept quiet on social media.