Thomas Portes accused of ‘putting a target on the backs of Israeli athletes’ with remarks at protest against Gaza war

An MP for the radical-left France Unbowed party has sparked outrage after saying Israeli athletes are not welcome at the Paris Olympics and calling for protests against their presence.

Citing Israel’s war in Gaza, Thomas Portes told a pro-Palestinian gathering in Paris on Saturday: “We are just a few days away from an international event to be held in Paris, the Olympic Games. And I’m here to say that no, the Israeli delegation is not welcome in Paris. Israeli athletes are not welcome at the Olympic Games in Paris. We have to use this deadline and all the levers we have to mobilise.”

Yonathan Arfi, the head of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France (CRIF), described the comments as “indecent” and “irresponsible”, accusing Portes of “putting a target on the backs of Israeli athletes”.

Arfi reminded the MP that 11 Israeli athletes were killed by Palestinian terrorists at the 1972 Munich Olympics and said the country’s Olympians were “already the most in danger” at the Games.

  • @puppy@lemmy.worldEnglish
    9•4 months ago

    What have these athletes done to personally contribute to genocide?

    They might have not anything wrong. That’s why they should be allowed to compete under a neutral banner.

    A recognition for all the hard work they have done. But Israel the terrorist state should not be recognised.

    • @unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
      9•4 months ago

      Just read another article and found this. I havent checked the quality of this news source but here u go:

      https://www.commondreams.org/news/christina-assi

      We have requested a ban of Israel at the Olympics because we believe that such ethics don’t reflect the spirit of the Olympics," POC deputy secretary-general Nader Jayousi toldKyodo News, pointing to evidence including Israeli athletes visiting IDF troops and posting pictures of signed bombs.

      Jayousi said it “should be the concern of the IOC” that Israelis who are “proud of slaughtering people”—a clear violation of the Olympic spirit—are set to compete in Paris.