Israeli jiu-jitsu fighter Yoav Manor remained calm despite the dramatic confrontation.

By World Israel News Staff

A Kuwaiti athlete refused to shake an Israeli competitor’s hand and verbally berated the fellow jiu-jitsu athlete at an international competition in Abu Dhabi, even leaving the medal ceremony rather than being photographed alongside the athlete from the Jewish state.

The drama unfolded last week during the under-77-kilogram medal ceremony at the AJP Tour in the United Arab Emirates, when gold medal winner Jassem Al-Hatem refused to shake the hand of bronze medalist Yoav Manor during the podium ceremony.

A clip that quickly went viral on social media showed Al-Hatem appearing furious as he refused to acknowledge Manor’s outstretched hand before storming away from the podium while calling the Israeli athlete a “child killer,” according to witnesses.

Unfazed by the confrontation, Manor then posed for pictures with German silver medalist Aram Lazar, who appeared visibly confused by the drama before embracing the Israeli competitor and posing for photographs with him.

Jassem Al-Hatem’s unsportsmanlike behavior quickly generated headlines across the Middle East and Israel, but the Kuwaiti athlete later took to social media to defend his actions, claiming that refusing to acknowledge the Israeli competitor was part of his Muslim faith.

“As a Muslim, you must have principles… We do not [compete] with these types. We do not respect these types,” Al-Hatem said in an Arabic-language post published on his social media accounts.

“As Kuwaitis, we do not respect them at all,” he added.

In a statement to the Hebrew-language outlet Ynet, the Israeli delegation praised the Emirati organizers of the competition and commended Manor for remaining calm throughout the incident.

“Despite the tension, the organizers and Emirati hosts tried to calm the situation and persuade the Kuwaiti competitor to take part in the medal ceremony, but he chose to leave the podium area,” the delegation said.

“Yoav, for his part, remained focused on the sporting achievement: a bronze medal at a prestigious international competition after an impressive day of bouts against opponents from around the world.”

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A recent report revealed that British authorities misrepresented Dutch police findings to justify a sweeping ban on Israeli spectators at a soccer match.

By World Israel News Staff

Dutch police have cast doubt on key claims made by British authorities to justify banning Israeli soccer fans from a recent match, saying that allegations about Israeli supporters’ behavior at a previous game in the Netherlands were false.

In October, Aston Villa announced that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were banned from attending an international match in Birmingham between the two teams. British police justified the sweeping and unprecedented ban by alleging that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans had been violent and unruly during a match against Ajax in the Netherlands last November.

However, according to a report in the Sunday Times, the information cited by British police — purportedly based on Dutch police assessments — was highly inaccurate.

One of the more questionable claims used to support the ban alleged that 200 Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters were “linked” to the IDF, making them a supposed threat. Amsterdam police spokesman Sebastiaan Meijer told the Sunday Times that, due to Israel’s mandatory conscription, the assertion was essentially absurd, because nearly every young Israeli man has served in the IDF.

Meijer also emphasized that British police would not have access to intelligence about individual fans or the details of their military service. “Most young men in Israel have some connection to the IDF, but we did not investigate it and we don’t have a number for that. Of course not. I read [the allegation]. I was really surprised,” he said.

British police also claimed that Israeli fans had “thrown innocent members of the public into” a river. But Meijer said the only person thrown into an Amsterdam canal was an Israeli fan, who was assaulted by local Muslims and forced to say “Free Palestine” before being allowed to climb out of the freezing water.

Further errors appeared in the British justification for the ban on Israeli spectators, including an assertion that Dutch police deployed 5,000 officers to contain clashes that broke out around the time of the match. In reality, only 1,200 officers were on the scene, Meijer said.

The British police report also misrepresented the violence itself, suggesting Israeli fans instigated the clashes. While a small number were involved in minor skirmishes, local Muslims launched a coordinated assault on Israeli supporters, including families and women. The incident was later described as a modern-day “pogrom” against Israeli Jewish visitors to the European city.

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Norwegian player Mathias Normann joined the campaign to boycott the Jewish state, after ending an engagement to an Israeli model.

By World Israel News Staff

Anti-Israel protesters picketed a UEFA event in London on Wednesday evening, demanding that the international soccer body ban Israel from competing in its tournaments.

Around 60 demonstrators gathered outside UEFA’s official launch event for the 2028 European Championship, waving Palestinian flags and shouting that those associated with UEFA had “blood on their hands.”

According to a report from the Daily Mail, protesters held signs reading “You are complicit,” “Show Israel the red card,” and “Offside for genocide.”

During the ceremony, UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin ignored the commotion outside of the venue.

“Football is the universal language. It expresses passion, skill, courage, solidarity, and respect better than any other, and it constantly reminds us that our differences are exactly what make our sport so beautiful,” Čeferin said. “At Euro 2028, we will all speak football – loud, clear, and united.”

Earlier that day, a group called Game Over Israel, which campaigns to ban Israel from international sporting and entertainment events, sent an open letter to UEFA urging a boycott.

“No shared venue, stage, or arena in international civil society should welcome a regime that commits genocide, apartheid, and other crimes against humanity,” the letter read.

“Israel’s continued impunity for such crimes will only be ended by the weight of collective conscientious action, including measures to block their entry to sporting or cultural events and activities.”

The letter was signed by several professional footballers, including French World Cup winner Paul Pogba, Moroccan player Hakim Ziyech, Spanish winger Adama Traoré, and Dutch forward Anwar El Ghazi.

Another signee, Norwegian player Mathias Normann, ended an engagement with Israeli model Eden Fines in 2024, and has since posted virulently anti-Israel content on social media.

In recent months, the Football Association of Ireland and the Turkish Football Federation have both called for Israel to be banned from international soccer tournaments.

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The IOC cut all future hosting talks with Indonesia over its discriminatory stance.

By World Israel News Staff

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has formally banned Indonesia from hosting international sporting competitions after the Islamic country barred Israeli athletes from participating in an upcoming world gymnastics event.

Earlier in October, Jakarta refused to issue visas to Israeli athletes who had qualified for the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships.

Despite appeals from Israeli authorities, Indonesia — the world’s most populous Muslim nation — maintained its refusal to allow the athletes’ entry.

The championships began last week, with Israeli competitors de facto banned from participating.

In response, the IOC declared that Indonesia had violated fundamental principles of equality in sport and the rules of international athletic competitions.

“All eligible athletes, teams and sports officials must be able to take part in international sports competitions and events without any form of discrimination by the host country,” the IOC Executive Board stated in a media release.

The committee announced that it would suspend all dialogue with Indonesia’s National Olympic Committee regarding any future Olympic Games, Youth Olympics, or other international events “until such time as the Indonesian government provides the IOC with adequate guarantees that it will allow access to the country for all participants, regardless of nationality.”

Israeli sporting officials welcomed the decision, condemning Indonesia’s actions to ban the Jewish state’s athletes.

“Global sport is based on clear rules, values, and strict adherence to equal opportunity and sportsmanship,” said Yael Arad, chair of the Olympic Committee of Israel (OCI), in a statement.

“The unequivocal statements regarding Indonesia’s disgraceful conduct resonate strongly in the field of sport,” she added.

In recent months, Israeli athletes have faced growing hostility in the global sports arena.

An Israeli cycling team was repeatedly attacked and harassed during the prestigious Vuelta bicycle race in Spain, and activist groups have called on FIFA and UEFA to ban Israel from international soccer competitions.

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Fans jeered while Israel’s anthem was played and waved Palestinian flags during the match.

By World Israel News Staff

Norway cruised to a decisive 5-0 victory over Israel in a World Cup qualifying match on Saturday evening — a game overshadowed by intense anti-Israel hostility from the crowd.

Norwegian superstar player Erling Haaland, who plays for Manchester City in the UK’s Premier League, scored three goals.

Two Israeli players — Anan Khalaili and Idan Nachmias — scored own goals.

Even before kickoff, tensions were high outside Oslo’s Ullevaal Stadium, where demonstrators gathered to protest Israel’s participation in the international soccer tournamnet.

Local media reported that Norwegian authorities deployed a heavy police presence around the venue.

“Several protesters have broken through the police barricades outside Ullevaal Stadium. We have therefore used gas to gain control of the crowd. No one has been injured in connection with the incident,” Norwegian police said in a statement.

Some demonstrators were reportedly arrested at the scene.

Inside the stadium, the anti-Israel hostility continued. Norway fans booed and jeered during the playing of Israel’s national anthem, and in the opening minutes of the match, spectators unfurled a massive Palestinian flag and a banner reading “Let Children Live.”

Throughout the game, numerous fans waved Palestinian flags and held up symbolic red cards directed at the Israeli team — a gesture meant to pressure international bodies such as FIFA and UEFA to ban Israel from global competition.

Early in the first half, a Norwegian fan ran onto the field in an attempt to disrupt play, but hewas quickly removed by security.

Inger Lise, a Norwegian supporter who attended the game carrying a “Free Palestine” banner, told far-left British outlet The Guardian that she opposed Israel’s inclusion in international sports.

“It’s very frustrating,” she said. “The game shouldn’t have been played, but it’s not up to us to ruin it. It’s just horrible that we are here now.”

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The Israeli Football Association says Reebok reversed course only after legal threats.

By World Israel News Staff

Athleticwear giant Reebok has denied reports that it surrendered to pressure from the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, after Israel’s national soccer team said the company demanded its logo be removed from team jerseys.

“Reebok is proud of our record as a unifier of all cultures on and off the pitch. Reports in Israeli news outlets claiming that Reebok has directed the IFA [Israeli Football Association] to remove its logos from its national team kits are simply not true,” a company spokesperson told Reuters on Tuesday evening.

“We will continue to honor our brand’s and our local licensee’s commitment to the IFA. We don’t do politics; we do sport.”

The Israeli Football Association, however, disputed Reebok’s denial. According to the IFA, Reebok did demand that its logos be removed but reversed the decision only after the sports body threatened legal action for breach of contract.

“Reebok reversed its decision and the Israel national team’s uniforms in international matches will continue to feature the company’s logo as it has been up to now,” the IFA said in a Hebrew-language statement.

On Tuesday morning, the IFA publicly accused Reebok of “caving to irrelevant and embarrassing boycott threats.”

The controversy comes after German sportswear brand Puma ended its sponsorship of Israel’s national team in December 2023.

At the time, Puma insisted the decision had been made in 2022 and was unrelated to political considerations.

Since the October 7 Hamas massacres and the subsequent war in Gaza, Israel has faced mounting hostility throughout the international sports world.

“Israel is committing genocide: Soccer federations, boycott Israel,” read an electronic sign in New York’s Times Square, displayed in September and paid for by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC).

In August, the Italian Coaches’ Association penned a letter to the president of the Italian soccer federation (FIGC), demanding that Israel be excluded from the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

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In Europe, several sports federations have groused about having to play Israeli teams, while noting they have no choice since Israel isn’t banned from international competitions.

By The Associated Press

A major cycling race in Spain was disrupted by protests against an Israeli team. A basketball game in Poland was preceded by fans booing the Israeli national anthem.

And several European countries are threatening to boycott a signature entertainment event if Israel takes part.

The global backlash against Israel over the war in Gaza has spread into the arenas of sports and culture. Israel’s critics say it should be sidelined from international events just like Russia has been since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Unlike Russia, which faced widespread condemnation and Western sanctions, Israel has not been shut out by global sports institutions like the International Olympic Committee or world soccer body FIFA.

Besides the small international Muay Thai federation, there’s been little will in international sports to prevent Israeli athletes from competing under their national flag.

But Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez raised the temperature earlier this week by siding with anti-Israel protesters who disrupted the Spanish Vuelta cycling race, saying it’s time to boycott Israel from international sports events until the “barbarity” in Gaza ends.

A day later, Spain’s public broadcaster joined three other European countries threatening to withdraw from and not carry next year’s Eurovision Song Contest – a hugely popular event in Israel and across Europe – if Israel is allowed to compete.

Earlier this month, some Hollywood filmmakers, actors and other industry figures signed a pledge to boycott Israeli film institutions — including festivals, broadcasters and production companies.

Why, Sánchez asked, shouldn’t Israel be expelled from sports just like Russia?

“This is different,” the IOC’s executive director for Olympic Games, Christophe Dubi, said this week in Milan when asked to compare the two.

Both the IOC and FIFA have said the legal reasons for acting against Russia have not been reached in Israel’s case but haven’t given detailed explanations.

The IOC has said Israel hasn’t breached the Olympic charter like Russia, when it annexed territories in eastern Ukraine. Also, European soccer federations and clubs are not refusing to play Israeli opponents.

FIFA declined a request for comment on its Israel policy and the delayed work of two panels reviewing formal complaints by the Palestinian soccer federation, which has long tried to bar Israel from competition over its treatment of Palestinians.

Israel reacts strongly to Spanish prime minister’s comments

Israel reacted strongly to Sánchez’ call for a sports boycott. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the Spanish leader an “antisemite and a liar.”

Israel has dug in its heels in the face of international isolation and criticism of its military campaign, which came in response to the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas-led terrorists.

The most notable exclusion from international sports was imposed on Apartheid-era South Africa. It did not compete at any Olympics after 1960 until the 1992 Barcelona Summer Games, two years after Nelson Mandela was released from prison.

Russia was swiftly blacklisted by most sports federations after the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Its athletes competed under a neutral flag at the Paris Olympics.

Currently there is no momentum for Israel to face the same fate. Still, some analysts said the move by Spain is significant, not least because it is a major soccer power set to co-host the 2030 World Cup.

It also will host an NFL game next month and the opening stage of next year’s Tour de France bike rice.

“Until now we haven’t seen this type of outrage against Israeli action in Gaza,” said Antoine Duval of the Asser Institute, a Netherlands-based think tank. “I think this tide is turning now.”

Sports federations have complained about playing Israeli teams

How impactful Spain’s move will be remains to be seen. No world leader has so far followed Sánchez’ call for excluding Israel from international sports.

On Thursday, a British lawmaker in Birmingham called on European soccer body UEFA to “urgently cancel” soccer team Aston Villa’s Nov. 6 Europa League match against Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv “to ensure public safety and community harmony.” UEFA has not shown any indication it will do so.

Israel’s culture and sports ministry didn’t return messages seeking comment.

In Europe, several sports federations have groused about having to play Israeli teams, while noting they have no choice since Israel isn’t banned from international competitions.

“Facing Israel in these circumstances is not a scenario we would wish,” Basketball Ireland chief executive John Feehan said last month about being drawn to play Israel in a Women’s Eurobasket qualifying game in November. “But there has been no change in Israel’s status within sport.”

Feehan said Ireland’s basketball federation could face sanctions “should we elect not to play, which would be hugely damaging to the sport here.”

In men’s soccer, Italy and Norway will host Israel next month in a World Cup qualifying matches and both federations spoke this week of their dissatisfaction with the situation.

Italian soccer leader Gabriele Gravina said he was “well aware of the sensitivity of Italian public opinion” about the Oct. 14 game in Udine. But refusing to play would result in a 3-0 loss by forfeit, according to FIFA’s rules.

“Not playing also means clearly saying we’re not going to the World Cup, we have to be aware of that,” Gravina said, adding that a boycott would instead help Israel advance closer to the finals tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Norway, which will play Israel on Oct. 11, said it would donate profits from ticket sales to Doctors Without Borders for its humanitarian work in Gaza.

Fans voice their protests against Israeli teams

When the Israel men’s national team played in Poland at Eurobasket last month, there were protests outside the arena in Katowice. Inside, the Israeli anthem was loudly booed by fans.

Last year, Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were involved in violent clashes with residents in Amsterdam while attending a soccer game there.

Protests inside stadiums are regularly seen in European soccer, even at the Champions League final in May. A “Stop Genocide In Gaza” banner in French was displayed during the game by Paris Saint-Germain fans congregated behind one goal in Munich.

UEFA did not open a disciplinary case, despite having rules prohibiting political messaging. It fueled the debate at its own Super Cup game in August: Before kickoff in Udine, banners saying “Stop Killing Children. Stop Killing Civilians” were laid on the field in front of the PSG and Tottenham players.

In tennis, Canada hosted Israel in the Davis Cup last weekend behind closed doors in Halifax, Nova Scotia, due to “escalating safety concerns.”

The move came after hundreds of Canadian athletes and academics urged Tennis Canada to cancel the matches over Israel’s actions in Gaza and Judea and Samaria.

In 2023, Indonesia lost hosting rights for the men’s Under-20 World Cup for FIFA rather than accept Israel playing on its turf. But its stance appears to have changed.

Israeli media reported in July that the country’s gymnastics federation was invited by Indonesia to send a team to the world championships in Jakarta later this year. Indonesia is currently in talks with the IOC to be considered as a host for the 2036 Summer Games.

The post Efforts to punish Israel over Gaza grow in sports and cultural arenas appeared first on World Israel News.

Prime Minister Sánchez said he was “proud” of demonstrators who disrupted the Vuelta bicycle race, preventing the podium ceremony from taking place.

By World Israel News Staff

The final leg of Spain’s prestigious Vuelta cycling race was canceled Sunday after anti-Israel protesters stormed the course in central Madrid. The disruption drew praise from Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

The Vuelta, one of the sport’s most respected competitions, has been repeatedly disrupted this year by pro-Palestinian demonstrators. Protesters flooded the course, causing riders to crash, and at times blocked the route, forcing organizers and police to cancel entire portions of the race.

On Sunday, despite the deployment of some 1,500 police officers to secure the finish line, organizers were forced to halt the final stage after protesters mobbed the end of the course in central Madrid. Police estimated that around 100,000 people took part in the demonstration, which ultimately prevented the podium ceremony from taking place.

When news of the cancellation spread, demonstrators were heard chanting, “Palestine won the Vuelta.”

Speaking at a conference later that day, Sánchez said the disruption filled him with “pride,” praising Spaniards for their advocacy.

He claimed the protests showed how “Spain today shines as an example and as a source of pride, an example to an international community where it sees Spain taking a step forward in the defense of human rights.”

Tensions between Spain and Israel have rapidly deteriorated in recent weeks. Sánchez accused Israel of committing “genocide” in Gaza and appeared to suggest that nuclear weapons could be used to halt Jerusalem’s military campaign in Gaza, a statement that drew a furious response from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Hostility against Israel was widespread throughout the competition.

The Israeli team was pressured to remove the word “Israel” from its uniforms during the race, citing safety issues.

Despite the protests, Matthew Riccitello, a 23-year-old rider for the Israeli team, was named the race’s Best Young Rider on Saturday, earning him a coveted white jersey.

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A protester waving a Palestinian flag caused chaos at the Vuelta, sparking a crash involving multiple riders.

By World Israel News Staff

An anti-Israel protester waving a Palestinian flag disrupted the Vuelta bicycle race in Spain on Sunday, causing multiple riders to crash.

The incident occurred during Stage 15 of the race, on the course between A Veiga and Monforte de Lemos in a rural region of northwestern Spain.

Live broadcast footage showed the activist running out of the woods and onto a paved road just as a tightly packed group of cyclists approached. His sudden appearance caused several riders to collide and crash, including Spanish cyclist Javier Romo.

It remains unclear if any members of the Israeli team were involved in the incident.

The participation of an Israeli team in the prestigious race has sparked ire among Spanish pro-Palestinian activists, some of whom lined the route to harass riders.

The disruptions have been so serious that Stage 11 of the Vuelta was declared as having no winner after police failed to contain hundreds of anti-Israel demonstrators who stormed the course near Bilbao.

The backlash escalated to the point where the Israeli team was forced to remove the word “Israel” from their uniforms, despite the race already being underway.

In a statement, the team explained that the move was made “in the interest of prioritizing the safety of our riders and the entire peloton,” citing the “dangerous nature of some protests at the Vuelta.”

Last week, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said he would “understand and be in favor” of a move to remove the Israeli team from the race.

“We have to send a message to Israel and the Israeli society that Europe and Israel can only have normal relations when human rights are respected,” Albares said.

In May, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said that Israel was a “genocidal state” during a speech to parliament.

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Italian coaches are demanding Israel be barred from competing in the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

By World Israel News Staff

European soccer officials are pushing for Israel to be banned from international competitions, raising fears that the Jewish State could face growing cultural isolation on the world stage.

The Italian Coaches’ Association penned a letter to the president of the Italian soccer federation (FIGC), urging that Israel be excluded from the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Italy’s national team is slated to face Israel twice during the tournament in September — matches the coaches said they are determined to avoid.

The group called on the Italian soccer organization to press the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) to suspend Israel from international play.

“This must not be just a symbolic gesture, but a necessary choice, which responds to a moral imperative,” wrote the association’s president, Renzo Ulivieri.

“Humanity’s values, which are the foundation of sport, compel us to resist acts of oppression with devastating consequences,” the letter continued. “Too many innocent lives, including athletes, have been lost. Indifference is not acceptable.”

While the letter briefly acknowledged the October 7th Hamas massacres, it argued that the attack did not “justify the fierce genocidal retaliation of Israel.”

The text made no mention of Hamas’ long-documented use of human shields or its deliberate endangerment of Gaza’s civilian population as a war tactic.

UEFA has signaled hostility toward Israel in recent months. Earlier in August, during the opening of a major soccer match broadcast to millions, the organization sponsored a banner reading, “Stop killing children. Stop killing civilians.”

Notably, UEFA has not publicly condemned the October 7th terror attacks, which saw the rape, mutilation, and murder of Israeli civilians.

Nor has the organization spoken out against Hamas’ ongoing torture and starvation of Israeli hostages, who have been held in Gaza for nearly two years.

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Fearing backlash if its players competed against Israel, Jordan said it forfeited to protect team members from “bullying and harassment.”

By World Israel News Staff

The Jordanian national basketball team chose to forfeit a scheduled game against Israel on Sunday, rather than play the Jewish State’s team in the Fédération Internationale de Basketball (FIBA) Under-19 Basketball World Cup, held in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Jordan’s basketball federation announced that it would refuse to play the Israeli national team, with the move earning Israel an automatic 20-0 technical victory.

“We made the appropriate decision not to play against Israel in order to protect the interests of our players,” the President of the Jordanian Basketball Federation, Ahmad Al-Hanandeh, told the Jordanian Arabic-language outlet Al-Mamlaka.

Notably, Al-Hanandeh hinted that the Jordanian team forfeited due to concerns that its players would be threatened for competing against the Israeli team.

“We wanted to avoid exposing the players to any situation that could open the door to bullying, harassment, or psychological pressure that might affect their performance or safety,” he added.

He acknowledged that forfeiting a match due to the country of the opponent was against FIBA rules, but said he hoped that the international basketball association “will view our decision from the right perspective and that there won’t be significant consequences for the federation or the players.”

Chairman of the Israeli Basketball Association Amos Frishman told the Hebrew-language outlet Ynet that he “had hoped the game would take place, especially given the peace between the two countries. But I can also, to some extent, understand the Jordanians — they were under immense pressure.”

In a later public statement, Frishman stressed that “sports is a bridge between peoples and cultures and not a political arena,” adding that he hoped “in the future, there will be no doubt about holding these games.”

In a brief statement, FIBA confirmed that Jordan had informed the organization of its refusal to play against Israel.

The statement did not include a condemnation of the move, nor details regarding potential consequences for the Jordanian team in future competitions.

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Italian MP says fans who turned backs during Israel’s national anthem should be jailed, apologizes.

By World Israel News Staff

Some 50 Italian fans turned their backs while the Israeli national anthem was played before a match between the Israeli and Italian national soccer teams, then booed and jeered when a commentator said the word “Israel.”

The game, which was originally planned to be held in Israel but was played in Budapest, Hungary due to the ongoing war, ended with a 2-1 victory for Italy.

In a statement, the fans said that they had turned their backs in order to protest the “genocide committed by Israel in Gaza.”

They also held an Italian flag with the word “Freedom” on it, presumably as a reference to “Free Palestine.”

The incident roiled Italian media, with some outlets reporting that the group were not actually fans, but members of a right-wing group who had attended the match in order to create controversy.

“Those fans who turned their backs during Israel’s national anthem must have forgotten that six million Jews were murdered by the Nazis,” Italian Member of Parliament Alfredo Antoniozzi said in a public statement. “These are the same people who chant antisemitic slogans at [anti-Israel] demonstrations.”

The politician called “on the chairman of the [Italian] Football Association to identify those fans and pass their names on to the authorities. We will make sure to prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law, and we will make an effort to even send them to prison. As an Italian, I feel an obligation and a need to apologize to Israel tonight.”

But another politician, former MP Alessandro Di Battista, praised the spectators’ behavior.

“The fans did the right thing. Israel has been occupying Palestine for decades, committing apartheid in the most blatant and ugly way,” Di Battista wrote on Facebook.

“Since the start of the war in Gaza, it has been responsible for brutal and cold-blooded murder. Israel is the worst terror state on the planet.”

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Windsurfer Tom Reuveny took top honors, while Sharon Kantor (windsurfing) Artem Dolgopyat (gymnastics) and Raz Herhsko (Judo) all took second place on the podium.

By Batya Jerenberg, World Israel News

Israeli Olympians had a historic weekend in Paris as four athletes stood on their respective podiums, with one taking the top honors and hearing the national anthem played for all to hear.

Windsurfer Tom Reuveni won gold exactly two decades after his coach, Gal Fridman, won the same event in Athens, for Israel’s first gold medal ever.

While the 24-year-old was understandably wildly happy at his victory, Reuveny put it in perspective in a post-race interview.

“My brother has been a combat soldier since the war began,” he told Reuters, referring to Israel’s ten-month-long battle with the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip. “It’s much bigger than me [winning] this event and it feels amazing,” Reuveny said.

He said it had been very difficult to train “while everyone else was crying over lost people, dead people,” but he had felt that the nation was behind him, which helped him tremendously.

Sharon Kantor, 21, took silver on the women’s side of the sport.

“I am so happy, I can’t believe it. I felt good. I am thrilled and so happy for the country. What a joy,” she said after her almost flawless race.

Kantor dedicated her victory to her “idol,” Lee Korzits, an Israeli female windsurfer who won four World Championships and is now battling cancer.

The head coach of the Israeli sailing team, who have participants in seven of the ten events on water, also referenced the war.

“We are in a tough year and a tough position … in this situation to represent Israel is a big honor for everyone and we all understand our roles: to give a bit of joy,” Eli Zuckerman told Reuters.

“I’m very happy that we succeeded,” he added. “I think the athletes are also very happy and very proud to do it while our country is in such a complicated situation.”

Artem Dolgopyat, who won Israel’s first ever gold in gymnastics at the Tokyo Games three years ago in the floor exercise, was content with a silver this time after a poor showing in an earlier round almost had him out of the competition altogether.

“I went into a kind of depression” after the qualifying round, he said. “But the team helped me prepare and picked me up. After I made it to the finals, I realized that I could do it with a very good feeling – that I could represent Israel as the best in the world.”

The 27-year-old thus became Israel’s most decorated athlete, as he is also a three-time World Champion in his event. The only other Israeli to win two Olympic medals in individual competitions was Fridman, who also has a bronze medal from the Atlanta Games in 1996.

Raz Hershko took second place in the women’s +78kg category of judo, becoming the third Israeli Olympian to medal in the sport in Paris.

She won her semifinal match in just 15 seconds, and “really wanted the gold,” she said, because “I felt like it was my day,” but she was still “very happy” to earn the silver because she “always” wants “to try to make the entire country happy.”

Last week, Peter Paltchik won the bronze medal in men’s judo 100 kg and Inbal Lanir won silver in the under-78 kg event. Lanir is also the 2023 world champion in her class.

Israel has never before netted six medals in the same Olympiad. The Paris haul brings the country’s total medal count to nineteen.

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The helmet said ‘BRING THEM HOME NOW!!!’ and ‘Am Israel Chai,’ which means ‘long live Israel.’
by Shiryn Ghermezian, The Algemeiner

Israeli race car driver Ariel Elkin recently won his first Formula 4 race of the season and used his helmet in the competition to honor the hostages still held captive by Hamas in the Gaza Strip since the Oct. 7 terrorists attacks that took place in southern Israel.

Elkin, 16, competed in the USF Juniors Formula 4 international race that took place on Sunday morning at the NOLA Motorsports Park near downtown New Orleans, Louisiana. His helmet in the race was covered with photos of the hostages and on the top of the helmet he wrote in black marker “BRING THEM HOME NOW!!!” and in Hebrew the phrase “Am Israel Chai,” which means “long live Israel.”

When Elkin got to the podium to accept his trophy for finishing in third place, the commentator asked him to put down his helmet and instead hold his trophy. The race car driver refused and explained that he wanted to pay tribute to the hostages that remain in Gaza. Instead of lifting his trophy over his head to take a photo with the other winners, he lifted his helmet to draw awareness to the hostages.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry thanked Elkin for his kind gesture in a post on the country’s official Twitter account and following his win, Elkin called for the immediate return of the hostages, which include one of his friends. He also thanked his supporters and the Israel Defense Forces for “keeping my family safe.”

“I am calling for bringing all of the hostages back home now and I am waiting to be back in Israel with my friend who is already half a year in Gaza,” he said. “I am waiting for her to come back home with all of the hostages.”

A total of 129 hostages abducted by Hamas on Oct. 7 remain in Gaza and the IDF has confirmed the deaths of 34 of those hostages. As part of a new ceasefire deal being discussed, Israel has demanded the release of 40 hostages — including all women as well as sick and elderly men, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners that would be released from Israeli prisons. However, Israeli officials and sources familiar with the negotiations revealed that Hamas told mediators it does not have 40 living Israeli hostages who meet Israel’s conditions.

The post Israeli race car driver finishes 3rd in international race, wears Hamas hostage photos on his helmet appeared first on World Israel News.

“I’m doing this with the Israeli flag and I’m proud of that. And whoever doesn’t like it, it’s just not my problem,” says Israeli swimmer undeterred by hostile crowd.

By World Israel News Staff

An Israeli swimmer who won a silver medal at an international competition in Qatar was repeatedly booed by the audience, even during the awards ceremony.

Anastasia Gorbenko earned a silver medal in the women’s 400 meter at the Doha World Championships, losing out on the top spot to Freya Constance Colbert from the UK.

But during a post-race interview and while standing on the podium to receive her medal, Gorbenko was subject to intense booing and jeers from spectators.

Sheri later told reporters that she had grown used to the onlookers’ hostility during her time at the competition.

“I’ve been here a week. I heard all these noises, but I’m [wearing] earplugs. I’m in my zone. I’m here to do what I love to do, which is sports.”

“I’m here to represent my country,” Gorbenko, who was born and raised in Israel to Ukrainian immigrant parents, added.

“I’m doing this with the Israeli flag and I’m proud of that. And whoever doesn’t like it, it’s just not my problem.”

Gorbenko said she never considered skipping events like the medal ceremony due to spectator behavior, but acknowledged that the crowd’s behavior did affect her.

“There was no way I was going to miss [the podium] just because some little kids are going to do whatever they want to,” she said.

“It’s just sport. I think sports and politics should be separated. But it does affect me emotionally, it’s been a long week for me. I expected myself to do better than I did.”

Gorbenko added that she won’t hesitate to swim in events held in Arab countries in the future, despite the hostility she faced in Qatar.

“At the end of the day, Israel is in the Middle East as well,” she said.

“I hope one day we’ll be able to make some peace with everyone.”

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In videos posted to social media, horse-mounted police officers are seen beating members of the throng with batons, as fans hurl objects at the cops.

By World Israel News Staff

At least 120 people were arrested in Tel Aviv on Tuesday evening during a high-stakes match between the coastal city’s two soccer teams, Hapoel Tel Aviv and Maccabi Tel Aviv, who are bitter rivals.

Police and fans clashed outside of Tel Aviv’s Bloomfield Stadium – the home arena for both teams – as thousands attempted to enter the site.

משוגע לגמרי
ההרוג הראשון קרוב pic.twitter.com/xNCsFtwR4s

— Rico (@Ricoooooos) September 26, 2023

According to Hebrew-language media reports, a raid earlier on the day of a fan clubhouse unearthed numerous weapons, including airsoft guns, steel bars and chemical sprays, along with banned pyrotechnics such as fireworks, which were intended for use during the evening match.

Following the discovery, police doubled down on searches of fans entering the stadium, slowing down the entrance to the game and sparking ire among spectators.

זאת הסיבה הראשית לכך שילדים קטנים בוכים במגרשים pic.twitter.com/aZtFoExbIz

— Dolev (מינצברג) Rozen (@dolev_rozen) September 26, 2023

“During the security checks, fans started to disturb public order by rioting, throwing objects and attempting to break through the gates,” police said in a statement.

Footage circulating on social media showed hundreds of fans trapped in small corridors and entryways, as authorities decided not to let more fans into the stadium until tensions had cooled.

“Suddenly, in the middle of everyone waiting in line, the police closed the entrance and people were crushed together like sardines,” a witness at the scene told Channel 12 News.

“People were shouting, ‘Let me out,’ because they didn’t have air to breathe.”

In other videos posted to social media, horse-mounted police officers are seen beating members of the throng with batons, as fans hurl objects at the cops.

Police said in a statement that two officers were wounded by projectiles that were thrown by fans.

Due to the chaos, the start time of the game was delayed by an hour.

Maccabi scored a sweeping victory over Hapoel, beating their rival 5-0.

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