The growing overlap between politics and professional sports has become increasingly difficult to ignore, particularly for Israeli athletes competing on the global stage.
In recent months, tensions surrounding Israel have spilled into arenas that were once considered separate from geopolitical disputes, shaping both public perception and the experience of athletes themselves.
Israeli MMA fighter Natan Levy
(Video: Lior Sharon)
The Israeli mixed martial artist Natan Levy described a sharp escalation in that trend following Oct. 7, saying the volume and intensity of political pressure have significantly increased. “It got amplified by a really large margin,” he said, pointing to what he views as heightened scrutiny and inconsistent standards applied to Israeli competitors.
Levy said the expectation that sports should remain apolitical often clashes with reality. While the principle is widely promoted, he argued that Israeli athletes frequently find themselves at the center of political narratives regardless of their intentions. “They can’t stop mixing it,” he said, referencing incidents involving national symbols and what he described as unfair treatment in competition settings.
As he prepares for an upcoming bout against a Pakistani opponent who referred to him as representing “occupied Palestine,” Levy said he is focused on maintaining composure. “I’m going to be cool, calm and collected,” he said, emphasizing that emotional reactions can undermine strategy inside the cage. Discipline, he added, remains his primary tool, even under external pressure.
At the same time, Levy acknowledged that such rhetoric can serve as an additional motivator. While his training routine is rooted in consistency rather than emotion, he said moments like these can intensify his competitive drive. “If you want to give me extra motivation… I think that’s a bad thing for you,” he said.
Beyond the fight itself, Levy described a growing sense of responsibility that extends beyond his personal career. “We’re all ambassadors,” he said, noting that victories and losses are often interpreted through a national lens. Still, he stressed the importance of perspective, pointing out that athletes are not on the front lines. “The real fighters… are IDF soldiers,” he said.
Levy also addressed rising antisemitism, saying it has moved beyond online discourse into physical incidents in cities around the world. Referencing cases from New York to Bondi Beach, he warned that Jewish communities are facing a more tangible sense of threat. In response, he has expanded his efforts to teach self-defense, leading workshops and working with organizations across North America. “This is definitely a mission of mine,” he said, “to help strengthen my people.”