Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulates Israel-Premier Tech team for standing strong against "hatred and intimidation" during La Vuelta competition
In the midst of the 2025 Vuelta a España, a cycling race held annually in Spain, a contentious issue has arisen. The Spanish party Izquierda Unida has called for the exclusion of the Israeli team, Israel-Premier Tech, from the competition, citing alleged human rights violations by Israel in Gaza. Spain's Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, has joined the call, arguing that the team's exclusion would send a strong political message to Israel, similar to past actions against Russia.
However, the Israeli Embassy has criticized the protests against the team's presence in the competition. The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has praised the team for their resilience in the face of pro-Palestine protests. Dan Poraz, a former Chargé d'affaires of the Israeli Embassy, has described the protests as an attempt to "terrorize athletes," and a "call for the destruction of a country." Dana Erlich, the new Chargé d'affaires, echoed these sentiments, labelling the protests as a "shameful display of barbarity."
The Israeli Embassy is not alone in its opposition to the protests. Benjamin Netanyahu has explicitly congratulated the team's owner, businessman Sylvan Adams, and expressed his belief that the Israeli team is making Israel proud. Poraz, too, has expressed his disappointment that there are politicians supporting the protests, describing them as 100% anti-Israel and not "pro-Palestine."
The Asian team's continued participation in the competition is also being questioned due to recent events. José Manuel Albares has expressed support for expelling the Asian team from the competition, arguing that it is necessary to send a "message to Israel." He further stated that the protests were not about peace, but about "wild, deep hatred."
The Bilbao stage of the competition saw protests that forced the finish line to be moved forward and the day to end without a winner. The protesters were waving Palestinian flags and holding signs against Israel's existence. The ongoing protests have undoubtedly affected the development of the 2025 Vuelta a España, adding a political dimension to the sporting event.
Amidst this controversy, there is a clear difference in opinion between Benjamin Netanyahu and José Manuel Albares regarding the participation of the Israeli and Asian teams in the 2025 Vuelta a España. As the race continues, it remains to be seen how these tensions will unfold and what impact they will have on the competition.
