“Congratulations to our Moroccan friends for their great victory,” wrote Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz on his Twitter account after the match ended.
Regional Cooperation Minister Issawi Frej tweeted, “What a pleasure to see the exciting victory of an incredible team representing an incredible country and people. Moreover, we will see for the first time an Arab team in the quarterfinals of the World Cup.”
“A happy day for Morocco and for all Arab football fans and a wonderful day for me. Good luck to Morocco,” he added.
Israeli army spokesman Avichai Adraee wrote on Twitter, “Congratulations Atlas Lions! You are the pride of us all.”
Ofir Gendelman, the Israeli Prime Minister’s spokesman to the Arab media, tweeted: “Congratulations Atlas Lions. You deserve it!”
Social networks were also filled with expressions of congratulations and praise, with many Israelis of Moroccan descent expressing their great joy at Morocco’s historic victory, while dozens of people went out to celebrate the victory in neighborhoods such as Beer-Sheva, Ashkelon and Ashdod.
In a statement to MAP, Albert Peres, from the city of Ashkelon, congratulated the Atlas Lions, who “made us happy and we are with you until the final.”
He said that hundreds of people came to celebrate the victory and exchange congratulations. It is a great day and it will certainly be a long night of celebration.
