Israel fumbles goodwill visit of NFL players

FILE - In this Jan. 14, 2017, file photo, Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett (72) walks off the field after an NFL football divisional football game against the Atlanta Falcons, in Atlanta. In an embarrassment to the Israeli government, only five of 11 NFL players have arrived on a sponsored trip aimed at improving the country's image. The ministry for strategic affairs and public diplomacy issued a press release after the Super Bowl boasting that the visit would bring "influencers" who would serve as "goodwill ambassadors" when they returned home. The announcement led Seahawks Michael Bennett to pull out. He accused the government of trying to use him for PR purposes and cited sympathy for the Palestinians. Several others players followed suit. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File) FILE - In this Jan. 14, 2017, file photo, Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett (72) walks off the field after an NFL football divisional football game against the Atlanta Falcons, in Atlanta. In an embarrassment to the Israeli government, only five of 11 NFL players have arrived on a sponsored trip aimed at improving the country's image. The ministry for strategic affairs and public diplomacy issued a press release after the Super Bowl boasting that the visit would bring "influencers" who would serve as "goodwill ambassadors" when they returned home. The announcement led Seahawks Michael Bennett to pull out. He accused the government of trying to use him for PR purposes and cited sympathy for the Palestinians. Several others players followed suit. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)

By Associated Press February 15, 2017 4 min read

JERUSALEM (AP) – 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 serve as “goodwill ambassadors” when they returned home.

The announcement led Seattle Seahawks defense lineman Michael Bennett to pull out. In a lengthy 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 only on a trip that includes stops in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to meet Palestinians.