Israeli minister slams Argentina team over football cancellation

Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Wednesday slammed the Argentina national football team over the cancellation of a planned friendly against Israel in Jerusalem, calling it a surrender to hate.

"It's a shame that Argentina's footballing nobility did not withstand the pressure from Israeli-hating inciters," he wrote on Twitter in the first response from an Israeli cabinet minister.

The Israeli embassy in Argentina earlier announced the "suspension" of Saturday's sold-out game because of what it called "threats and provocations" against Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

The World Cup warm-up appearance in Jerusalem was hotly opposed by Palestinians, who claim the eastern part of the city, annexed by Israel, as the capital of their future state.