But was it worth the weight?
Dozens of glistening competitors took the stage for an annual body building and fitness competition in Tel Aviv last week. But behind the scenes, machismo made way for cooperation.
Just short of 80 contestants participated in 14 categories at this year’s Israel’s National Amateur Body Builders’ Association competition.
Backstage, the mood was one of camaraderie. In the run up to the flex-off, Jews and Arabs, male and female, young and old from around the country, worked together ahead of the big show.
“There is no politics whatsoever in the sport,” said Yoni Hanna, president of the Israeli chapter of the National Amateur Body Builders’ Association.
The report continues to speak about the winners and that’s it. No boilerplate sentence about how Israeli is maintaining a “50-year-old occupation” or anything of the sort. Just positivity and an accurate reflection of how Jews and Arabs in Israel mostly get along.
