French Member of Parliament Thomas Portes has sparked controversy by demanding the exclusion of Israeli national symbols from the upcoming Paris Olympic Games.
Speaking at a pro-Palestinian rally in the French capital, Portes called for Israeli athletes to compete only as individuals, without their national flag, anthem, or uniforms. "Israeli athletes are not welcome at the Olympic Games in Paris," Portes declared to a crowd of supporters.
The left-wing politician urged French diplomacy to pressure the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to implement these restrictions, drawing parallels to previous Olympic bans, such as South Africa's exclusion during the apartheid era.
This stance has drawn sharp criticism from Jewish community leaders in France. Yonathan Arfi, president of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France, condemned Portes' statements, comparing them to events surrounding the tragic 1972 Munich Olympics attack.
Karen Taieb, deputy mayor of Paris, voiced her disapproval, stating, "What we expect from elected officials is to live together, and they advocate hatred."
An Israeli diplomatic source, speaking on condition of anonymity, emphasized the ongoing security cooperation between French and Israeli authorities but refrained from directly commenting on Portes' remarks.
The IOC and French government have yet to respond officially to these demands.
