” Israeli athletes are welcome “, reaffirmed Emmanuel Macron, on France 2 and on the airwaves of Radio France, Tuesday, July 23. But at a time when more than 39,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war waged by Israel against the Gaza Strip, and when approximately 400 Gazan athletes have died in nine months, the participation of Israeli athletes raises questions. Especially when Russian and Belarusian athletes accepted invitations to compete under a neutral banner at the Paris Olympics, and the International Olympic Committee had initially banned these athletes after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Palestinian Olympic Committee denounces a double standard and demands that ” applied the same rule to Israel “.
2 min
With our correspondent in Ramallah, Alice Froussard
During the departure ceremony of the Palestinian delegation for the Olympic Games From Paris, at the French Institute in Ramallah, Jibril Rajoub, the president of the Palestinian Olympic Committee, is very clear.
” I believe that anyone who violates and disrespects the Olympic Charter has no legal, moral or even sporting right to participate in these Olympic Games. ” he protests.
Without specifically naming them, he refers to Israeli athletes. Should they have been boycotted? Asked to compete under a neutral banner, as the Russians and Belarusians do?
No clear position taken
Nader Jayousi, a former boxer, coach and secretary general of the Palestinian Olympic Committee, says it is not their identity, but their political positioning that poses a problem.
” They should have made a very clear statement and taken a stand. Because when Israel kills a six-year-old karateka in Gaza, it has nothing to do with politics; and as an Olympic family, they should fight against it, denounces the former athlete. But they have not expressed any sympathy for what is happening, not even on the sporting level. On the contrary, they have even taken a clear position in favor of the genocide. »
He cites in particular the judoka Peter Paltchik, Israeli flag bearer, or the president of the Olympic committee, Yael Arad.
One thing is certain: in Paris, Palestinian athletes will use the media exposure as a platform to talk about Gaza.
For its part, the Israeli Olympic Committee – contacted by RFI – refused to comment on the matter.
Read alsoParis Olympic Games: How is the geopoliticization of Olympism asserted?