For her relatives in the war: Israeli wants to win the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia

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Now of all times? Now of all times. Yael Kadshai is a motorcycle pilot from Israel and is participating in the infamous Dakar Rally for the first time. The toughest rally in the world will take place for the fifth time in Saudi Arabia (5 to 19 January). Despite the war in her home country against Hamas terrorists, Kadshai is the first Israeli to start the Dakar in the Muslim Saudi kingdom.

Now of all times? Now of all times! Participating in the Dakar has been Kadshai’s big dream for years. It was born in her cradle: her father Aviv participated in the Dakar several times.

The driver was in a special unit in the army

Now the daughter wants to spend two weeks at full speed in the Saudi desert – for her relatives who are fighting against Hamas. She says in a video of her Dakar crowdfunding: “You can certainly ask yourself if it is the right time to raise money for a motorsport event in Israel when the entire country is mobilized to fight Hamas and release the hostages .”

The motor pilot describes that she herself served in a special unit (in Israel, military service also applies to women), and that seven members of her immediate family have currently been drafted. “All seven are currently participating in the fighting. Even though I worry about my loved ones, riding in the Dakar is my contribution to the war,” says Kadshai. With her participation, she wants to set an example against the “global wave of anti-Semitism”, as she says.

Just reaching the finish line is a victory

“I want to show the whole world what women from Israel can achieve. There is nothing better than winning in a place where women are not allowed to do everything,” said the Dakar debutant. “I want to raise the Israeli flag on stage during the closing ceremony in Saudi Arabia!”

But just reaching the finish line is a lofty goal. The 2024 Dakar is considered the toughest in years and covers approximately 7,891 km through the desert. What are the chances that she will actually cross the finish line as the winner? Of course, the debutante has no chance of overall triumph. But in the women’s motorcycle class – because with Jane Daniels (GB) there is only one other woman at the start.

Source : Blick