Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulates the Israel Premier-Tech team to hold out despite “hatred and intimidation”

The leader spoke on social network X Friday. The Vuelta's journey has been disrupted by several pro-Palestinian demonstrators in recent days.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated the cyclist Israel-Prime Tech cycling team for his decision to remain engaged in the Tour of Spain, Friday, September 5, while his runners are targeted by recurrent pro-Palestinian demonstrations and of unprecedented magnitude. “Bravo to Sylvan (Adams, the Israeli-Canadian billionaire owner of the training) and the cycling team of Israel so as not to give in to hatred and intimidation. You are pride of Israel”he wrote in a message published on the official X account of the Prime Minister of the State of Israel.

The 80th edition of the Vuelta has been disrupted in recent days by actions by pro-Palestine demonstrators. On the road to the 13th stage, Friday, the three men of the breakaway were blocked a few tens of seconds at the foot of the Ascension of Angliru, twelve kilometers from the finish. Two days earlier, the organization had decided not to declare a winner at the arrival of the 11th stage in Bilbao, already due to demonstrations on the finish line.

The day before, during the 10th stage, the Italian runner Simone Petilli (Intermarché-Wanty) had gone to the fall, caused by demonstrators who crossed the road when the peloton arrived, launched at high speed. The team time trial had also seen the runners of Israel-Prime Tech be interrupted for a few seconds by demonstrators. As of Wednesday, several runners deplored “Feel in danger” faced with the recurrence of these actions. Eight steps remain before arrival in Madrid on September 14.