(VIDEOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE)
An Israeli judoka has won a gold medal at a competition held in Abu Dhabi, though he did not compete under the Israeli flag.
Tal Flicker won gold on Thursday in the men’s under-66 kilogram (145 pounds) competition at the Judo Grand-Slam Abu Dhabi 2017. As every year, the United Arab Emirates banned Israeli athletes from wearing their country’s symbols on uniforms, and singled Israel out with a ban on displaying its flag or playing its anthem during the tournament.
Several Israelis saw their bouts conclude without receiving the customary handshake from their opponents.
The International Judo Federation demanded last week that the UAE treat Israeli athletes equally.
A letter from the IJF to the president of the UAE Judo Federation obtained by The Associated Press said that “all delegations, including the Israeli delegation, shall be treated absolutely equally in all aspects, without any exception.”
Flicker competed under the International Judo Federation flag.
At the award ceremony, he could be seen on the podium apparently mouthing the words to the “Hatikvah,” the Israeli national anthem. The Judo federation flag flew above him.
The UAE, like many Arab countries, does not have diplomatic ties with Israel and remains opposed to its so-called occupation of lands Palestinians want for a future state. Only Egypt and Jordan host Israeli Embassies in the Mideast.
An Egyptian judoka refused to shake hands with his Israeli opponent at the Rio Olympics last year. Tunisia’s tennis federation ordered the country’s top player to withdraw from a match against an Israeli opponent at a tournament in 2013.
Israel’s 🇮🇱 Tohar Butbul beat the UAE’s Rashad Almashjari at #JudoAbuDhabi2017. The Emirati couldn’t bring himself to shake his hand. pic.twitter.com/6LF4rwAqe1
— Avi Mayer (@AviMayer) October 28, 2017
A Moroccan judoka ran way from the mattress to avoid shaking the hand of Israeli judoka Shira Rishoni who defeated her in #JudoAbuDhabi2017 pic.twitter.com/Ln3lbDrFOB
— Ofir Gendelman (@ofirgendelman) October 28, 2017
Israeli judokas won 5 medals in #JudoAbuDhabi2017. That’s the best response to those who banned the Israeli flag and anthem there. pic.twitter.com/QKqhlK7etW
— Ofir Gendelman (@ofirgendelman) October 28, 2017
(YWN / AP)
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One Response
the Koran teaches the Muslims that they are to be on top and we Jews are second rate sub humans and we are to be on the bottom. They can not accept the reality that they have been on the bottom for several centuries now…