Israeli footballer’s role in assault on southern Lebanon sparks outrage

An Israeli footballer dressed in a military uniform has been seen opening fire in southern Lebanon amid the US-Israel war on Iran, prompting calls from football officials and fans for FIFA to take action against him. Menashe Zalka, dressed in the Israeli army uniform, is seen opening fire from a machine gun and throwing a grenade in a social media video posted by Israel’s Channel 14 on Saturday. The video – verified by Al Jazeera – is purportedly from Israel’s military assault in southern Lebanon.

Zalka, who plays for Hapoel Hadera in the Israeli Premier League, is enlisted in the army’s paratrooper brigade as a reserve, according to reports in Israeli media. The 35-year-old is seen accompanied by another Israeli army soldier as they open fire from a damaged building in a residential area at an unspecified location in southern Lebanon. Zalka has previously been part of Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, where he was among the reserves “for hundreds of days”, according to a post by former member of the Knesset, Dov Lipman.

A Palestinian football official has termed Zalka’s involvement in the military assault “unacceptable”. The video of Zalka’s involvement in Israel’s offensive in Lebanon has prompted football officials and fans to renew calls for FIFA to ban the Israeli Football Association (IFA), which was recently handed a fine of 150,000 Swiss francs ($189,000) by the sport’s global governing body. FIFA’s disciplinary committee found the IFA guilty of “multiple breaches” of anti-discrimination obligations on March 19, but did not suspend the Israeli body despite calls from the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) and rights groups.

“Israel’s Channel 14 celebrates the trigger-happy captain of Hapoel Hadera, Menashe Zalka, as he throws a grenade and shoots around in southern Lebanon,” PFA’s Vice President Susan Shalabi wrote in a post on X. Israel's Channel 14 celebrates the trigger-happy Captain of Hap'oel Khadera, Menashe' Zelka, as he throws a grenade and shoots around in South Lebanon. #RacismInFootball #KickItOut #UEFA #FIFA #RedCardIsrael pic.