Since ESPN has ceased being a news source, here’s the relevant details:
The trip is sponsored by some Israel government ministries together with America’s Voices in Israel. The players, their agents, and the NFL could not have misunderstood the nature of the trip.
For years, AVI has been organizing trips to Israel by journalists and celebrities. AVI was founded by Malcolm Hoenlein, a very well-known spokesman for numerous, mostly Leftist, Jewish organizations.
The players simply caved to some outside pressure after having first agreed.
I wouldn't put Hoenlein on the left of anything. He uses a lot of Diplospeak to be sure, but I've spoken to him in person and hear him regularly on the radio and don't believe he is particularly sympathetic to the left.
ML/NJ