Jerusalem Stadium Becomes Campaign Hub Ahead of Israeli Knesset Elections
Politicians flock to Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem during a high-profile football match, highlighting pre-election tensions as candidates campaign among tens of thousands of fans.
Ahead of the upcoming Knesset elections, the Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem became a major hub for Israeli politicians. The match between Beitar Jerusalem and Maccabi Tel Aviv drew approximately 30,000 spectators and a notable lineup of political figures, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, Economy Minister Nir Barkat, Likud candidate Yaakov Bardugo, and Shaul Meridor, running under the Yashar! party led by Gadi Eisenkot.
The Absence of Netanyahu and Political Tensions
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a self-declared fan of the yellow-and-black team, had reportedly planned to attend the match for the first time in five years. However, despite heavy security preparations at the stadium, Netanyahu ultimately did not show up. His potential presence had already sparked a political storm prior to kickoff, with the Yashar! party demanding that the sports broadcaster prevent any election propaganda during the broadcast.
Shaul Meridor on Voter Shifts
Shaul Meridor, a former budget director at the Ministry of Finance and a candidate for Eisenkot's party, spoke about his experience in the stands during an interview. He expressed pleasant surprise at the positive reception from the crowd.
"To be honest, it was pretty amazing to see. There are 30,000 people sitting in Teddy, which isn't even a single mandate, but the sheer number of people in the stands who told us they are voting for us pleasantly surprised me," Meridor said.
He further claimed that support for his party is also drawing from former coalition voters: "In general, I see people all over the country who previously voted for the coalition, mainly Likud, but also Shas and Religious Zionism, shifting over to us."
Security Minister Incident
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir also caused a stir during the match when he requested to access the eastern stand via the players' tunnel and walk across the pitch. According to sports channel reports, Beitar Jerusalem officials rejected his request, forcing the minister to take a detour to reach the stands amid a tense political atmosphere ahead of the vote.
