When asked about victories, the coach often says that sports outcomes are insignificant compared to the hostages' freedom. Hapoel Jerusalem was the beloved team of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli-American hostage who was murdered in captivity

To speak out, to stand with Palestinians, to reject the violent mob that now claims to speak for the Jewish mainstream, is to risk condemnation, arrests, and attacks. Meanwhile, the gutless liberal leaders who should be on the front lines are cowering in the face of the right's assault

After the Attorney General's warning, the ministerial committee advanced two bills by Likud lawmakers. Baharav Miara that that this move is a 'regime change that will weaken gatekeepers' and that the bills were advanced without professional review