NFL Delegation to Visit Israel Next Week

JERUSALEM, Israel – Martellus Bennett, tight end with this year's Super Bowl champions, the New England Patriots, will join a delegation of senior NFL players for a seven-day visit to Israel. Bennett finished the Super Bowl with five catches for 62 yards.

The invitation is the joint initiative of the Ministry for Strategic Affairs and Public Diplomacy, the Tourism Ministry and America's Voices in Israel.

The 11-member delegation, which arrives Monday, February 13, will visit Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, the Dead Sea and Haifa, along with Christian sites in the Galilee, including the baptismal site at the Jordan River.

"I see great importance in the arrival of this delegation of NFL stars to Israel," Strategic Affairs Minister Gilad Erdan said. "I have no doubt that their visit will be a powerful experience for them, and I hope that through their visit, they will get a balanced picture of Israel – the opposite from the false incitement campaign being waged against Israel around the world."

Erdan said he hoped the players "will present the beautiful face of Israel to their tens of millions of fans in the United States" to help offset the de-legitimization and BDS campaigns against the Jewish state.

The delegation will play an exhibition game with the Israeli Football League on Saturday, February 18 that's open to the public.

The following players make up the delegation:

New England Patriots' tight end Martellus Bennett
Seattle Seahawks' defensive end Cliff Avril
Denver Broncos' running back Justin Forsett
Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker
Philadelphia Eagles' linebacker Mychal Kendricks
Miami Dolphins' wide receiver Kenny Stills
New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan
Arizona Cardinals' defensive end Calais Campbell
San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde
Oakland Raiders' defensive tackle Dan Williams

Tourism Minister Yair Levin called the players "a source of inspiration" for all Americans.