Israeli Athletes Cast Ballots and Share Political Choices in Election

As millions of Israeli voters headed to the polls on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, for the 26th Knesset elections, prominent athletes, basketball captains, and football stars stepped out of stadiums and into voting booths to cast their ballots and publicly share their political choices on social media.

The intersection of sports and politics in Israel rarely mirrors the widespread institutional activism seen in global leagues, but election day brought prominent figures out in force. From basketball hardwood to football pitches, star athletes took to Instagram and other platforms to reveal their votes, endorse party leaders, and spar over political futures. While some players kept their endorsements brief, others posted explicit ballot slips or direct messages to political figures.

Tomer Ginat and Raveh Limond Back Naftali Bennett’s Yachad Party

Hapoel Tel Aviv and Israeli national basketball team captain Tomer Ginat was among the very first to share his voting choice on Tuesday morning. Ginat posted an Instagram story featuring a ballot slip for the Yachad party, led by former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and opposition leader Yair Lapid. Above the ballot marked with the Hebrew letters “רק”, Ginat added the caption, For a better future, amen!

Ginat’s political engagement follows previous public activism; during the March 2023 protests against the judicial overhaul, the national team captain participated in demonstrations against the government. Joining Ginat in supporting the Yachad list were Ironi Nahariya guard Koren Zorno and former national team and Hapoel Tel Aviv player Raveh Limond.

Eran Zahavi and Football Stars Rally Behind Benjamin Netanyahu and Likud

On the other side of the political spectrum, Israel’s all-time leading goalscorer Eran Zahavi revealed that he voted for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party using the traditional Mahal ballot slip. Alongside his disclosure, Zahavi posted a message emphasizing social cohesion amid deep political divides: The real victory in these elections is that we will know how to accept each other’s choice of the other side, love you.

Zahavi later shared a direct response he received from Netanyahu’s official Instagram account, simply replying King. Several other prominent football figures also threw their weight behind Likud, including Maccabi Tel Aviv player Ofek Biton, Ashdod captain Tom Ben Zaken, Beitar Jerusalem winger Ravid Abergel, and former Hapoel Tel Aviv and Beitar Jerusalem player Amir Ageib. Michael Ohana posted two photos from the polling station—one joking with a Lionel Messi slip and another showing his real vote for Likud.

Diverse Alignments Across Israeli Football and Punditry

The spectrum of athlete involvement extended across multiple other lists and figures. Hapoel Be’er Sheva midfielder Elial Peretz posted an Instagram photo from the voting booth showing his support for the “Am Yisrael” party led by Ofer Winter. Meanwhile, former Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa defender Omri Ben Harush backed the reservists and economic list headed by Yoaz Hendel and Yaron Zellicha.

Photo: הארץ

Former player and Sport1 pundit Uri Ozan declared his vote for Gadi Eisenkot’s “Yashar!” party, praising Eisenkot as a brave, balanced, and unifying leader from the periphery who could mend societal fractures. Former national team star and pundit Eyal Berkovic had likewise declared his support for Eisenkot prior to election day. On the pitch, Maccabi Tel Aviv player Osher Davida backed Itamar Ben-Gvir, while former national team defender Tal Ben Haim and Hapoel Haifa midfielder Shay Elias also signaled support for Ben-Gvir through social media interactions.

Political Engagement in Arab Israeli Football

Players from the Arab sector similarly voiced civic responsibility during the 2026 vote. Former national team striker Moanes Dabour, currently based abroad, shared a digital graphic carrying a clear call to action: Your vote is your responsibility, go out and vote, as reported by MAKO. Former forward Mohammad Ghadir posted a story urging voters to support the Ra’am party and its candidate Yasser Hujeirat, a stance shared by former Hapoel Be’er Sheva player Imran Al-Krinawi.

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