In just two years, the world will turn its eyes to Los Angeles for the Olympic Games. Today (Wednesday), Casey Wasserman, a preeminent figure in global sports and entertainment and head of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee, made a poignant visit to Israel’s Gaza-border communities, underscoring solidarity amid tragedy.
Wasserman, a Jewish-American entrepreneur and globally recognized agent representing athletes and celebrities - including Brad Pitt, Adam Sandler, Ed Sheeran, NBA star Klay Thompson, and footballer Steven Gerrard - arrived in Israel as the guest of honor of the Olympic Committee of Israel. His three-day official visit, which includes meetings with representatives from both the Olympic and Israeli communities, will culminate tomorrow with the year-end ceremony of Israel’s Olympic Committee.
During his tour of southern Israel, Wasserman met with families and survivors of the October 7th massacre, hearing firsthand accounts of the violence that swept through the region and witnessing the profound efforts communities are making to rebuild their lives. From the outset of the war, Wasserman has been a vocal supporter of Israel, condemning Hamas terrorism. In a speech dedicated to the victims of the attacks during the first week of the crisis, he affirmed his pride in being Jewish and expressed unwavering solidarity with the nation.
Guided by Or Yelin, a survivor of the Be’eri massacre and long-time advocate for Israel, Wasserman heard deeply personal accounts of the horrors endured by kibbutz members, alongside stories of courage and resilience. The visit also included a meeting with Aviyad Bechar, who lost his wife and son in the massacre and suffered severe injuries himself, sharing the ongoing struggle of his community to recover and return to normalcy.
The tour began at Kibbutz Be’eri, including visits to destroyed neighborhoods, the kibbutz printing press, and frontline sites. Wasserman then continued to the Nova complex near Re’im and the site of burned vehicles in Tekuma. Throughout the day, he met survivors, security personnel, and volunteers, listening to their experiences of fear, heroism, and the daunting challenges of recovery.
Wasserman’s visit, bridging the worlds of international sport and humanitarian witness, highlighted not only the resilience of Israel’s border communities but also the global solidarity and attention that such tragedies demand.