אל על | אטמוספירה

Rapid-fire

“The first time I realized that Fauda was big in America and abroad in general was when airport immigration officers recognized me. That was after the series had been released on Netflix. Then on a beach in Miami, dozens of people asked for a picture with me. The reactions come from everywhere - from the Prime Minister of India to Ridley Scott, who offered me a role in Gladiator 2 after seeing me in Fauda”. And how does it feel to be an Israeli abroad in these difficult times? “I feel both immense pride and a huge sense of responsibility. We’re proud of who we are and what we are. We travel the world with our heads held high, I’m proud of what I’ve achieved, I’m proud of Avi (Issacharoff), co creator of Fauda, of Deni (Avdija), of Gal (Gadot). Every Israeli who succeeds on the international stage makes us proud”. NBA stardom Deni, you’re the greatest Israeli basketball player we’ve ever had; you’ve reached the NBA! How does it feel to have attained such heights? “I don’t think of myself that way. I’m happy and proud of what I’ve achieved, and it’s very exciting for me to be playing on the most prestigious courts in the world and to know Israeli fans are supporting me along the way. But it comes with a lot of responsibility, and I still work hard

every day to keep improving so that I represent Israel as best I can, with honor and pride”. Being a leading Israeli player in the best league in the world is a trailblazing achievement. What have you discovered about the American sports’ world? “I grew up in Israel with an Israeli mother, an athlete herself, and a Serbian father, also a great athlete who received a strict Serbian upbringing. They are the ones who gave me the tools and the direction. Along the way, I learned how to work in a very competitive system, how to be more independent and learn from the people around me”. You’re used to the roar of the crowd and the pressure of the last seconds of the game. What place does pressure occupy in your daily life, when you’re not on the courts? “The pressure is always there but the secret is to use it as fuel for motivation”. The new NBA season (2026-2027) is expected to officially open in mid to-late October. You’re heading out to training camp and preseason this month. What goal are you setting for yourself this season? “My goal for the upcoming season is to lead the team into the playoffs and continue the journey as far as possible, play the All-Star Game, and/ or be selected by one of the league’s top five teams”.

Time to fasten your seatbelts: we’re ready for takeoff What’s the first thing you do when you board a flight? Lior: “I take out my computer so I have it on hand for work and for watching things”. Deni: “I listen to Israeli music and watch Israeli shows”. What do you always have in your bag? Lior: “My computer, my AirTag, and reading material”. Deni: “My headphones, my computer, commitments and you could board a flight to anywhere in the world tomorrow morning, where would you fly to and why? Lior: “Costa Rica. I’ve never been, but I have a feeling it’s an ideal vacation spot”. Deni: “I’d return to Japan. it’s such a magical place with an amazing culture. I would love to learn and experience more of it”. ˆ What makes you laugh? Lior: “When regular people find themselves in extreme situations”. Deni: “Zufi. He’s the funniest man in the world”. What makes you mad? Lior: “Lack of kindness”. Deni: “Dishonesty”. What would people be surprised to know about you? Lior: “That I was vegan for two years”. Deni: “That I love to draw”. What’s your favorite thing to do in your spare time? Lior: “Spend time with my family”. Deni: “Watch a good tv show or go to the beach with my friends”. Had you not become the superstars you are today, what would you be doing now? Lior: “I’d be a park ranger at the Nature & Parks Authority”. Deni: “I’d probably be in some other sports’ discipline. Sport is in my blood”. and a Turbo protein bar”. If you didn’t have any work

The EL AL safety video has never looked better EL AL is launching a new generation of safety videos that offer an innovative, highly engaging safety briefing experience. The integration of AI technology makes it possible for alternate versions to be created and adapted to each flight and each destination, offering a more dynamic, refreshing and localized experience which increases attention to the safety messages in the video. The stars taking part in the project are Gal Gadot, Rotem Sela, Lior Raz and Deni Avdija, who each in their own way, represent authentic Israeliness, professional excellence, and the ability to connect with a wide range of audiences in Israel and around the world. The new video is much more than just a safety video – it is an innovative content platform that creates a special kind of viewing experience that with each flight and each destination, incorporates and adapts new content and new stories, while always ensuring the highest levels of safety standards are maintained.

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ATMOSPHERE SEPTEMBER 2026

Photo: Guy Kushi & Yariv Fein