There have been some notable examples in recent weeks of anti-Israel behaviour and double standards in the sporting arena. These are worth a mention because no other nationality in the world has to endure prejudice in the ways Israelis do and we can only put this down to underlying anti-Semitism.
During the Olympic games, there were reports of the Lebanese team refusing to allow members of the Israeli team share a bus to the opening ceremony. There were athletes pulling out of the competition to avoid having to compete against Israeli opponents.
Following that, an Egyptian judo fighter refused to shake the hand of the Israeli who had just beaten him simply because of his nationality. Given that these examples of pathetic poor sportsmanship are evident on the international stage of an iconic event like the Olympic games, imagine how deep-rooted the discrimination against Jews permeates the minds of those involved. We are not aware of any other such example of athletes making a ‘political point’ in this way at the Olympics.
These are not isolated incidents either – watch this video of Iranian wrestling coach explaining to his distraught athlete why he was putting ice on his hand at a youth tournament – it was solely to fake an injury so that he could avoid an Israeli opponent:
This week, Israeli football teams have been involved in qualification for European competition. We have seen Palestinian flags being displayed by Celtic fans at the Israeli fans without intervention in Scotland, whilst in France, not only were another Israeli team shown Palestinian flags during the game, supporters of the Israeli team were not permitted to enter the stadium with Israeli flags in their possession!
We are seeing increasingly absurd levels of double standards which appear to be becoming more generally accepted by society as normal. Authorities appear to have little appetite to prevent acts of anti-Israel sentiment but have no issue preventing political statements the other way around.
Of all the countries in the world, why is it ONLY the Israelis who have to suffer such marginalization when they play sport? There are other countries who are notorious human rights abusers – why do no athletes refuse to shake hands with competitors from countries such as Saudi Arabia, North Korea, Pakistan, Eygpt and the like? Here is a wonderful example of good sportsmanship between two gymnasts from North and South Korea who countries are bitterly opposed to each other – this demonstrates how sport can bring people together if there is a will on both sides. Why is it only the Israelis who endure this poor sportsmanship when there would have athletes from many countries involved in conflict and disagreement that could rise above it?
It is amazing that one tiny nation who have been persecuted for millennia still seem to attract so much animosity and ill-will. We suggest the problem is primarily a spiritual issue and that there is a Satanic anti-Semitism bubbling away within most of humankind. This will be harder and harder to contain and will increasingly manifest itself in less than subtle ways – it will steadily gain momentum before reaching a climax resulting in a terrifying showdown the Bible has predicted for thousands of years. Find out more in our Why Israel? article.
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. (Psalms 2:1-4)
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