Netanyahu Discusses Israel's "Game Plan" With Former NFL Stars

News Staff : Jun 23, 2015
United With Israel

Prime Minister Netanyahu met with American NFL stars, presenting the many challenges Israelis face and asked them to go home and tell the truth about Israel.

(Israel)—Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met on Monday with a delegation of 20 former National Football League players and NFL Hall of Fame members, led by New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. (Photo via United With Israel)

This is the first visit to Israel for many of the group members.

Netanyahu told the players, who wore their famous Hall of Fame Gold Jackets, about the many challenges Israel faces, especially concerning Iran's efforts to achieve nuclear weapons. Using American football terminology, he explained:

"Iran is one yard away from the goal line. If they get nukes, the preeminent terrorist regime of our day will be armed with nuclear weapons. That's dangerous for the United States and for Israel and for the entire world. And our effort today is to make sure that we block them and push them back."

The players, including Mel Blount, John Hannah, Tim Brown, Curley Culp, Thurman Thomas, Curtis Martin, Andre Tippett and Raymond Berry, gave the prime minister a jersey with his name, a football and a helmet—"the helmet for good defense and the ball for touchdowns."

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