From the Liveblog of
Monday, January 15, 2024
‘Shame on you’: Former PM Bennett slams Turkey over arrest of Israeli soccer player
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleFormer Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett blasts the reported arrest tonight of Israeli soccer player Sagiv Jehezkel, of the Antalyaspor club, as part of an alleged incitement probe opened by Turkish authorities over a gesture made earlier by Jehezkel on TV for the Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
“This is Turkey 2024. Shame on you, Turkish government,” tweets Bennett, calling the arrest “unbelievable.”
Jehezkel, 28, was suspended from the team after he celebrated an equalizer goal in Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Trabzonspor in the top Turkish league by making a heart sign with his hands to the camera, and showing the words “100 days. October 7” along with a Star of David symbol on his wristband. 100 is the number of days the hostages have been in the Palestinian terror group’s captivity.
The gesture was met with fierce backlash from fans and Turkish media.
Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced an investigation against Jehezkel for charges of “inciting people to hatred and hostility.”
Hebrew media reported Sunday night that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been updated on the events and that the Prime Minister’s Office together with the Foreign Ministry and the Culture and Sports Ministry were working to push Turkey for Jehezkel’s release.
The Times of Israel Community.