French lawmaker says Israelis ‘not welcome’ at Olympics

A French Member of Parliament has sparked a political row by saying Israeli athletes were not welcome at the Paris Olympics because of the Israeli war on Gaza.

France Unbowed (LFI) lawmaker Thomas Portes was putting a target on the backs of Israeli athletes, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told broadcaster France 2, echoing criticisms made by a major Jewish group earlier Sunday.

Portes had said at a rally in support of Palestinians that the Israeli delegation is not welcome in Paris, and Israeli sportspeople are not welcome at the Paris Olympic Games, and he also called for “mobilisation” around the event.

He later told the Parisien newspaper that France’s diplomats should pressure the International Olympic Committee to bar the Israeli flag and anthem, as is done for Russia.

Portes added that it’s time to end the double standard.

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a limited number of Russian athletes will be allowed to compete in Paris as individuals and not under their country’s colours, and only after being vetted to ensure they have not expressed support for the war.

Source: Aljazeera