'Israeli' media frames Jordan's basketball withdrawal as "political drama"
In the first official response, Amos Frishman, head of the Israeli Basketball Association, stated, "On behalf of the Basketball Association, I regret the decision of the Jordanian team. I had hoped the Jordanian team would take the court to show that sport can be a bridge between nations, not a political battlefield. I hope that in the future, there will be no doubt about holding such matches."
Leading 'Israeli' media outlets, including Yedioth Ahronoth, claimed that "politics won over sports," noting that Jordan's withdrawal came after months of uncertainty, with the final decision being announced only hours before the scheduled match.
According to 'Israeli' reports, the Jordanian team's decision followed widespread public pressure in Jordan against normalization with 'Israel'. The hashtag #منتخبنا_ضد_التطبيع ("Our team is against normalization") trended across social media platforms, with strong criticism of any match against the Israeli Occupation's team, especially in light of 'Israel's' ongoing genocide in Gaza.
Israel Hayom described the withdrawal as part of a broader 'political drama' but noted that the decision ultimately benefited the 'Israeli' team, which was awarded a technical win, improving its chances of topping the group and securing an easier matchup in the Round of 16.
Despite the withdrawal, the newspaper noted that the Jordanian team will not be disqualified from the tournament, taking advantage of a loophole in FIBA regulations that allows a team to miss up to two matches without elimination.
Meanwhile, the Walla news site reported that the 'Israeli' team entered the tournament with minimal preparation due to ongoing security tensions and the war with Iran, having played no friendly matches in advance. It also revealed that Lithuania had been prepared as a backup opponent in case the 'Israeli' team withdrew.
The tournament has been marked by additional tension, including a protest outside the Vaduz Arena. During 'Israel's' match against Switzerland, a spectator stormed the court waving a Palestinian flag, causing the game to be halted just nine seconds after tip-off.
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