Abu Dhabi to allow Israelis to perform at judo tournament, but no flag, ‘ISR’ or national anthem

The Israeli Judo team participating at the Grand Slam event in Abu Dhabi will not be allowed to compete wearing Israel’s national flag or hear the ‘Hatikva’ if they win a place on the podium.

By JTA

 

Israeli judokas participating in the Grand Slam event in Abu Dhabi will not be able to compete under their country’s flag.

Or Sasson at the 2016 Olympics. – Photo: Fernando Frazão/Agência Brasil/Wikimedia

The team will be prevented from wearing the Israeli flag or any other national emblems on their uniform, including the designation ISR for Israel, and if they win a place on the podium they will not hear their national anthem, “Hatikvah,” the AFP news agency reported. Instead, they will be identified as competing as part of the International Judo Federation, or IJF.

Twelve Israelis are slated to participate in the tournament being held later this month in the United Arab Emirates, an Arab country with which Israel does not have diplomatic relations.

Among Israel’s delegation will be Or Sasson, who won a bronze medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016. During those games, Egyptian judoka Islam El Shehaby refused to shake hands with Sasson.

 

View original Arutz Sheva publication at:
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/236788