Ahead of Likud primaries: Party considers reserved slot for soccer player

The Likud primaries will take place this coming Monday, and the party is considering granting one of the five remaining reserved slots of the Prime Minister to soccer player Mensha Zalka, captain of Hapoel Hadera. Zalka, who served as team captain, previously worked at Hillel Yaffe Hospital and took part in fighting after October 7th.

The Likud primaries will take place this coming Monday, and the party is considering granting one of the five remaining reserved slots of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to soccer player Mensha Zalka. Zalka, considered one of the greatest players of Hapoel Hadera and a symbol of the club, serves as team captain in the position of defensive midfielder and center back. During his time in the lower leagues, Zalka worked in the transportation department at Hillel Yaffe Hospital in Hadera. In 2019, he lit a torch at the 71st Independence Day ceremony, alongside Paralympic athlete Moran Samuel. After the October 7th massacre and the outbreak of the Iron Swords War, he again enlisted for reserve duty and took part in the fighting. The reserved slots are given to the Prime Minister, and many well-known names are expected to be pushed down the list as a result.