Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett was applauded by Red Card Israeli Racism (RCIR) yesterday after backing out of today’s sponsored trip to Israel, on the grounds that he refuses to be used as Israel’s “goodwill ambassador.”

Bennett, as well Miami Dolphins wide receiver Kenny Stills and Denver Broncos running back Justin Forsett, are taking a stand against the Israeli government, with the Seahawk releasing a statement on Friday in which he made clear that he will visit Israel under his own terms.

RCIR backed Bennett’s stand, telling the Star: “We applaud Michael Bennett for his principled stand on behalf of the people of Palestine. He is one of a growing number of sports stars who refuse to be used as propaganda tools by a brutal regime.”

Bennett’s outrage came days after his brother Martellus, who also backed out of the trip to Israel, rejected the offer to visit President Donald Trump when the New England Patriots are honoured at the White House for winning the Super Bowl.

Michael first made the announcement on social media, tweeting a picture of Martin Luther King and Stokely Carmichael with the caption: “I’m not going to Israel,” before later explaining why on Instagram.

He said: “I was not aware that my itinerary was being constructed by the Israeli government for the purposes of making me, in the words of a government official, an ‘influencer and opinion-former’ who would then be ‘an ambassador of goodwill.’

“I will not be used in such a manner. When I do go to Israel — and I do plan to go — it will be to see not only Israel but also the West Bank and Gaza so I can see how the Palestinians, who have called this land home for thousands of years, live their lives.

“I want to be a voice for the voiceless and I cannot do that by going on this kind of trip to Israel.”

The trip will see a friendly match between a group of players from the NFL and the Israeli Football Association on February 18.

And Bennett was angered by Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs and Public Diplomacy Gilad Erdan’s statement announcing the trip, which said: “I see great importance in the arrival of this delegation of NFL stars to Israel. I have no doubt that their visit will be a powerful experience for them and I hope that, through their visit, they will get a balanced picture of Israel.

“The ministry I lead is spearheading an intensive fight against the delegitimisation and BDS (boycott, divestment and sanctions) campaigns against Israel and part of this struggle includes hosting influencers and opinion-formers of international standing in different fields, including sport.”

Bennett was not the first activist to speak out against the trip, with journalist Dave Zirin of The Nation penning an open letter, signed by activists and sports stars, urging players to “consider the political ramifications of a propaganda trip organised by the Israeli government,” as it “aims to prevent players from seeing the experience of Palestinians living under military occupation.”

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