PM shows off torn ligament
PM shows off torn ligamentIsrael news photo: PMO

The prime minister scored a goal, but pulled a tendon in the process – fouling out a Likud Knesset faction meeting as a result.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is as agile as ever on the political field, but not quite as light on his feet on the soccer field.

Taking part Monday afternoon in a Jewish-Arab children's soccer game, the prime minister missed a swing at the ball after about five minutes of game time.

The game was being held at Jerusalem's Kraft Stadium, and was staged for Peter Greenberg's show “The Royal Tour.”

Down he went, straining a tendon in the process.

Photo: GPO
Photo: GPO

Likud Knesset members canceled their regularly scheduled faction meeting in deference to the injury.

"Today I was playing soccer to promote tourism and to show off the youth and the truly beautiful side of Israel -- but I tore a ligament during the game," Netanyahu explained with a slightly sheepish glance at his foot in a video clip sent a few hours later to media outlets.

"It's not exactly the Euro," he kibbitzed, showing off the cast on his left foot. "Tomorrow I will be back at the game as a prime minister," he added, "to continue in other fields, once again on behalf of the State of Israel."