Pro-Palestinian protester takes issue with Israeli team at Tour de France
Norwegian rider Jonas Abrahamsen won the 11th stage in a photo finish just ahead of Swiss rider Mauro Schmid, but their final sprint was accompanied by a man running alongside who wore a T-shirt saying, 'Israel out of the Tour,' and who waved a keffiyeh, the black-and-white checkered headscarf that has become a potent symbol of the Palestinian cause.
A security guard ran out to apprehend the man.
The Israel-Premier Tech team is racing at this year's Tour with eight team members from other countries. The team acquired the right to enter the Tour de France in 2020 when Israel Start-Up National took over Katusha's WorldTour license and has since claimed three stage victories, though none yet in this year's race.
Team members previously faced protests because of the team's association with Israel, which has killed more than 58,000 Palestinians in 21 months of war, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The war was sparked by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel that killed some 1,200 people on Oct. 7, 2023.
Israel and Hamas are considering a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal that could pause the war.
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Fox Sports
a few seconds ago
- Fox Sports
Who Is Marcus Armstrong? The Kiwi's Love For NFL, 'Talladega Nights' & Podcasting
"I knew that it would work out, and I was just trying to convince my parents just to let me go and give me that chance to leave school." Marcus Armstrong moved away from his native New Zealand as a teen to pursue his dream of racing. That dream eventually became a reality. The soon-to-be 25-year-old was on a Formula 1 path, having spent three seasons in Formula 2 before making the move to INDYCAR in 2023. Now in his third season of INDYCAR racing, the Meyer Shank Racing driver — who currently sits seventh in the standings — talked to FOX Sports about living abroad as a teenager, being a Kiwi here in the United States, his love of sports views on American football, why he no longer has a podcast and the quintessential NASCAR movie. Who is Marcus Armstrong? Who is Marcus Armstrong? It's a good question. Are we talking philosophically or ... How would your friends describe you? I would say that I'm a Kiwi. And Kiwis are generally very chilled out. And just like to hang out, especially when I'm not working. So I guess I am a Kiwi in that sense. I love sports — a big, big sports guy. I'm usually two, three, four hours a day in the gym and then just following sport in general. I love it. Tour de France is on at the moment, so I'm following that very closely. If I wasn't a racing driver, I'd probably be doing another sport. So that pretty much explains it all. Are the Tour de France competitors crazier than you guys? Yes, 100 percent. Tour de France guys are mental riding in that peloton together. They're all fighting for every inch, for every corner, and it's like 25-wide. Plus the extreme measures they have to take to be prepared for the race and to be fit enough to do it. I think it's the coolest, coolest thing ever. When we talked earlier, you mentioned the NFL and NBA. Did you always follow those in New Zealand? Or are you now immersed in American sports because you're here? I actually got into the NFL because I started listening to Colin Cowherd, like years ago. I love the NFL, especially. The NBA, I'm getting more into. I didn't know it quite as much. But there's just something about [the NFL], very glamorous. In New Zealand, we have rugby and it's not too dissimilar in many ways, but you have to admit that the NFL has nailed its marketing scheme and the glamor behind it is second to nobody. So it's kind of cool to follow. And whenever there's no NFL on, I kind of get a little bit sad. You also gave me a "Talladega Nights" Ricky Bobby reference before. It seems like you have a lot of American culture. Has it seeped its way into your Kiwi person? Yes. That movie is world-famous, so you can't just say it's because I'm into American stuff. However, it was on TV the other night, and it gave me some good ideas for some TV interviews later this week. How accurate do you think "Talladega Nights" is to actual NASCAR? It's 100 percent accurate. It's a documentary, is it not? You used to have a podcast. Why did you get rid of it? I didn't get rid of it. It's just one of those things where I did it for fun with my friends, a couple of other Formula 2 drivers and whoever wanted to come on, basically. And it was a little bit, how would you say, it's out there? We used to do like wine tasting and stuff like this on the podcast, which is probably frowned upon over here. But the main reason is logistically, we can't do it. I'm living in the States. My mates live in the UK. We did it because it was fun and we wanted to maintain a really high quality, so we wanted to do it in-person. We didn't want to do it over Zoom or anything like that. We always got overly dressed up. And it was also produced by my guy … who's with me full time now, but it was almost too good for the quality of the podcast. Because we were not good podcasters. I would love to do it again. But just logistically, it's tough and to maintain that quality, you kind of have got to be there in person. And did you like kind of the showman aspect of it? It was a fun little distraction when I was in F2. It was just to sort of bro-down with everybody. Americans are very outgoing and social. Let's say over there, it's a bit less so like that. And to get to know people, you actually need to spend three, four times as much time with them, as opposed to Americans. So I don't know if that answers your question. But, yeah, it was good fun. You're a Kiwi, but when was the last time you lived in New Zealand? I haven't lived in New Zealand since probably 2013 when I was like, 12 or 13. As a Kiwi or an Aussie or even an American nowadays, you kind of need to go over to Europe really early if you want to fulfill that Formula 1 dream. I did karting over there for maybe three years, and then I moved to Formula 4 and F3 and F2 and all of that. I had to leave at a very young age, and I actually lived alone from when I was 13. So that was kind of interesting as well. I got to do all the stuff that 13-year-olds don't really think about. So did you like that? Or did that stress you out? Or did you embrace it? Definitely didn't stress out. I was there for a reason. My parents actually didn't want me to do it at all. They were very against it at the time. I got my way into a team because I did compete over there before I went over to live there. And basically I said I'll go over there for six months, and if it's not working out, and blah, blah, blah, then I'll come home. But I knew that it would work out, and I was just trying to convince my parents just to let me go and give me that chance to leave school. So it actually was a pretty crazy, crazy thing looking back at it, but I think it's worked out. So people say, well, Marcus left school at age 13 and moved, I can do that too, right? Would you recommend it? My little brother is 15 at the moment, and I wouldn't let him go to the shops on his own at the moment. It's one of those things where you really need to want it, and you need to have a passion. And my passion was racing karts at the time and being the best in the world at that. And that was my goal. So what do you miss most about not being home? I think the weather is really good in New Zealand. I always like it when I go back there for the summer. The food, as well, is good. I know everybody — that's a good thing and a bad thing, I suppose. It's almost like being a celebrity because you just know everybody, but not really a celebrity, if that makes sense. I don't enjoy going to a coffee shop or something and knowing like five or six people there. That's maybe the one con of going to New Zealand. You want to go to a coffee shop and sit by yourself? No. I just like to be incognito, like wear a cap around. I don't want people to recognize me at the best of times. But New Zealand is a very calm place. It's a great place to train, to recenter after a busy season. I think it's the perfect place. Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports. He has spent decades covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Item 1 of 1 Get more from the NTT INDYCAR SERIES Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic
Los Angeles Times
a few seconds ago
- Los Angeles Times
Israeli strike hits Gaza church, killing 2 and wounding priest who was close to Pope Francis
DEIR AL BALAH, Gaza Strip — An Israeli shell slammed into the compound of the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, killing three people and wounding 10 others, including the parish priest, according to church officials. The late Pope Francis, who died in April, had regularly spoken to the priest about the situation in the war-ravaged territory. The shelling of the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza also damaged the church compound, where hundreds of Palestinians have been sheltering from the 21-month Israel-Hamas war. Israel issued a rare apology and said it was investigating. Pope Leo XIV on Thursday renewed his call for an immediate ceasefire in response to the attack. In a telegram of condolences for the victims, Leo expressed 'his profound hope for dialogue, reconciliation and enduring peace in the region.' The pope said he was 'deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and injury caused by the military attack,″ and expressed his closeness to the Rev. Gabriel Romanelli and the entire parish. The church compound was sheltering both Christians and Muslims, including a number of children with disabilities, according to Fadel Naem, acting director of Al-Ahli Hospital, which received the casualties. The Catholic charity Caritas Jerusalem said the parish's 60-year-old janitor and an 84-year-old woman receiving psychosocial support inside a Caritas tent in the church compound were killed in the attack. Parish priest Romanelli was lightly wounded. 'We were struck in the church while all the people there were elders, innocent people and children,' said Shady Abu Dawood, whose mother was wounded by shrapnel to her head. 'We love peace and call for it, and this is a brutal, unjustified action by the Israeli occupation.' The Israeli military said it was investigating. It said it 'makes every feasible effort to mitigate harm to civilians and civilian structures, including religious sites, and regrets any damage caused to them.' 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Francis had repeatedly criticized Israel's wartime conduct, and last year suggested that allegations of genocide in Gaza — which Israel has rejected as a 'blood libel' — should be investigated. The late pope also met with the families of Israeli hostages and called for their release. Only 1,000 Christians live in Gaza, an overwhelmingly Muslim territory, according to the U.S. State Department's international religious freedom report for 2024. Most are Greek Orthodox. The Holy Land's Christian population has dwindled in recent decades as many have emigrated to escape war and conflict or to seek better opportunities abroad. Local Christian leaders have recently denounced attacks by Israeli settlers and Jewish extremists. There has been little visible progress in months of indirect talks between Israel and Hamas aimed at a new ceasefire and hostage release agreement, after Israel ended an earlier truce in March. According to an Israeli official familiar with the details, Israel is showing 'flexibility' on some of the issues that have challenged negotiators, including Israel's presence in some of the security corridors the military has carved into the territory. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were discussing ongoing negotiations, said Israel has shown some willingness to compromise on the Morag Corridor, which cuts across southern Gaza. However, other issues remain, including the list of Palestinian prisoners to be freed by Israel and commitments to end the war. The official says there are signs of optimism but there won't be a deal immediately. Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the Oct. 7 attack and abducted 251 people, most of whom have since been released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Fifty hostages are still being held, less than half of them believed to be alive Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed over 58,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which has said women and children make up more than half of the dead. It does not distinguish between civilians and militants in its tally. The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government but is led by medical professionals. The United Nations and other international organizations consider its figures to be the most reliable count of war casualties. Shurafa and Lidman write for the Associated Press. Lidman reported from Tel Aviv. Colleen Barry in Milan, Josef Federman in Jerusalem and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut contributed to this report.
The Hill
a few seconds ago
- The Hill
The president is fueling antisemitism with his attacks on higher education
President Trump is attacking universities across the nation, threatening their federal funding for what his administration calls inadequate action to combat antisemitism. His arguments are that many universities have not protected Jewish students on their campuses from protests and writings supporting Palestinians in response to the nearly two-year Israel-Gaza conflict. The president cites Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as the foundation for his actions, which bars discrimination against race, color or national origin. However, these views conflate antisemitism, anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian positions. Trump also appears to believe that using antisemitism is a strong lever to redirect university policies around his broader attack on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion or DEI policies. Trump's actions have been disruptive across higher education. Despite such overreach, most institutions have simply genuflected, as with the recent resignation of the president of the University of Virginia — a move that stoked further protests across campus. The boldest retort has come from Harvard, which began its response on April 29 with a more than 300-page report on antisemitism and anti-Israel biases. The actions by the Trump administration to keep Harvard from enrolling international students, to lose its accreditation and to terminate its federal funding are weapons against Harvard and higher education in general. Taxes on large university endowments is yet another tool being used to dampen the influence of the most prestigious and influential schools. Yet Trump using antisemitism in this manner may lead to more, not less, antisemitism in the future. Antisemitism is nothing new, and is an ongoing concern for all Jews. It is a particular form of racism, whereby certain groups are discriminated against based on their race, country of origin, gender or, more broadly, anything that makes them different from the majority — and a convenient scapegoat. As Trump exploits disdain for antisemitism to execute his own personal crusade against higher education, his laser focus on Jewish students and faculty becomes exploitive in and of itself. It draws unnecessary attention to these people in such a way that has been twisted to make them look like victims, which they are not. Jewish students are well represented in higher education, making up between 8 and 24 percent of the undergraduate student bodies at Ivy league schools. The list of public schools that have 10 percent or more of their undergraduates identifying as Jewish is both long and geographically diverse, including the University of Florida (19 percent), the University of Maryland College Park (19 percent) and the University of Michigan (15 percent). In contrast, Jews are estimated at around just 2 percent of the general U.S. population. Given that the Jewish culture strongly supports and advocates for education, this should not be a surprise. Even before Trump's recent actions, race preference in higher education has been under a spotlight. The 2023 Supreme Court ruling in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College ended affirmative action based on race in college admissions. Jews were contributors to this ruling, as quotas on Jewish students that existed in the 1920s were cited by two justices. The ruling did not, however, directly affect DEI activities on campuses. As Trump uses antisemitism to fulfill his personal attacks on higher education, he is inadvertently giving preferential treatment to Jewish students at these institutions. Yet this is exactly what DEI does for members of underrepresented groups on campuses — the very thing that Trump disdains about DEI (or what he refers to as an ' illegal discrimination ') and says he wants to end. The only difference is which group is given favored treatment. The University of Michigan acknowledged in 2024 that its DEI efforts were counterproductive, fostering resentment, bitterness and discord amongst all community members. In the current political climate, the school went one step further and closed its DEI offices, as have numerous other schools. This does not mean that physical and verbal harassment of any subgroup in a population should be tolerated. What it does mean is that when any subgroup is singled out, the 'laws of unintended consequences' can produce a whiplash effect over time. The fire attack in Boulder, Colo., may be an example of such behavior. All groups and subgroups should be treated fairly. But 'fair' does not always mean 'equal.' By using antisemitism as the stick to punish universities, Trump's Machiavellian plan is on full display, exploiting the negative connotations associated with antisemitism even though his issue is much broader with higher education. If Trump truly cared about stifling antisemitism on university campuses, he would not use it to fulfil his broader crusade against higher education. Indeed, his current efforts only serve to inflame antisemitism and make it worse. Sheldon H. Jacobson, Ph.D., is a professor in the Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. A data scientist, he uses his expertise in risk-based analytics to address problems in public policy.
