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.

  • naughtEnglish
    310·
    4 months ago

    I mean, Hitler was at the Olympics. What have these athletes done to personally contribute to genocide? Should Americans be unwelcome for Vietnam? Iraq? Afghanistan? Gitmo? Any of the various coups in South America? Grenada?

    Just a thought. Not sure of the correct course of action here.

    • 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.

    • unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
      8·
      4 months ago

      Yes, US athletes absolutely should not be welcome for the many atrocities their country has commited and still comitts.

      Russian athletes are not allowed to partake as russians and need to use neutral colors, flags, anthems and are not allowed to be supported by russian organisations duevto their invasion of Ukraine. The same should be applied to Israelis and US athletes.

      • naughtEnglish
        1·
        4 months ago

        Maybe that’s reasonable. Where do we draw the line? What’s the statute of limitations on an atrocity? What is terrible enough to warrant a ban? What about having capital punishment? Depending on where you draw the line, I feel like a lot of the world would be stripped of their colors at the Olympics, which to me feels like it defeats the purpose.

        ty for your take

        edit: added example