Yael Arad, president of the Israeli Olympic Committee, said Israeli athletes at the Paris Games had been subjected to “intense” threats aimed at creating “psychological fear”.
“It’s not easy to be an Israeli athlete on the international stage these days,” Arad said, adding that the Olympics “is a bridge between people, countries and religions, and we are here to compete.”
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Tom Reubeny, the 24-year-old Israeli windsurfing gold medalist who won the event on Sunday, spoke out about some of the threats he and his teammates have received, Israel’s only gold medal to date, with six medals to their name.
“I don’t think politics should come into play in sport, especially the Olympics,” Reubeny said. “Unfortunately, politics come into play, and not just in the Olympics, from people who don’t want us to compete or be here. I’ve received quite a few messages and threats.”
Israeli windsurfer Tom Reubeny celebrates winning the gold medal in the men’s windsurfing final at the awards ceremony. (Clive Mason/Getty Images)
The history of Israeli athletes being targeted at the Olympics dates back to the 1972 Munich Olympics, when eight terrorists affiliated with Black September, an affiliate of the Palestine Liberation Organization, tried unsuccessfully to break into the Olympic Village and take athletes hostage, resulting in the deaths of six Israeli coaches, five athletes, one West German police officer, and five terrorists.
This year, Israel’s Olympic team is competing under the shadow of the country’s war against Hamas and Gaza.
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Israel Defense Forces The Israel Defense Forces said on Tuesday they had carried out an airstrike in southern Lebanon, killing four Hezbollah operatives. The strike took place in the Nabatieh neighborhood, with the IDF saying its warplanes targeted a building used by Hezbollah on the southern front.
Team Israel flag bearers Andrea Murez and Peter Palczyk are seen floating down the Seine River with their team during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in Paris, France on July 26, 2024. (Maya Hitidji/Getty Images)
continue Hezbollah and Hamas Assassinations Iran, which met with terror leaders last week, acknowledged the security concerns on Monday, insisting that regional stability could only be achieved by “punishing” Israel for its alleged assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
of White House Israel announced the deployment of new defense forces last Thursday to protect the country from Iran and its proxies.
Israeli athletes look at the Eiffel Tower from a boat in a water parade on the Seine River during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 26, 2024. (Nir Elias – Pool/Getty Images)
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Palestinian athletes have also participated in the Paris Olympics so far. Valerie Tarazi, a 24-year-old Palestinian-American swimmer who will represent Palestine in the women’s 200-meter individual medley in Paris, spoke about what it means to compete for Palestine amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
She also served as Palestine’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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