Israeli Arab media personality set to join Labor party

Likud calls on Broadcasting Authority to immediately stop Bahloul from broadcasting soccer matches.

By ARIEL BEN SOLOMON
Zouheir Bahloul (photo credit: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/102FM)
Zouheir Bahloul
(photo credit: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/102FM)
Well-known Israeli Arab soccer commentator Zouheir Bahloul reportedly said on Wednesday that he would be joining the Labor Party and would run in the party’s primary next month.
His decision should be announced on Thursday, Israel Radio reported.
Reacting to the news, Likud candidate Oren Hazan called on the Broadcasting Authority to prevent Bahloul from working as a soccer commentator, since he is entering politics, The Jerusalem Post’s sister Hebrew publication, Maariv Hashavua, reported on Wednesday.
Bahloul was debating between Labor and Meretz and he is likely to submit the paperwork on Thursday morning in order to run in the Labor primary.
He told Army Radio in an interview on Wednesday that he wants to be part of a party that would lead a revolution and perhaps win the elections and lead the country.
Bahloul was born in Haifa in 1950 and his family moved to Acre when he was a child. He started his career in media working as a researcher for the Broadcasting Authority and later became a sports announcer for radio and TV.