ISRAELI DECISION TO BLOCK SPECIAL OLYMPIAN CONTRADICTS SPIRIT OF GAMES

international | rights, freedoms and repression | press release

Thursday June 19, 2003 18:21

by flanagan

Ely Place, Dublin 2

Israeli authorities refuse to allow Palestinian athlete to participate in Special Olympics.

Labour Party Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Deputy Michael D Higgins has described the decision of Israeli authorities not to allow a 21-year-old Down syndrome athlete from Palestine to travel to Ireland for the Special Olympics as "a complete affront to the values of the games and the spirit of compassion and humanity they promote."

Deputy Higgins continued, "The Special Olympics is about promoting the positive side of life and breaking-down prejudices people hold about people with intellectual disabilities. In this instance the Israeli authorities appear ignorant of such sentiments.

"I am calling on the Israeli authorities to grant passage for Mr Lyad Abuelkheir from the Gaza Strip to Egypt to allow him complete his journey to Ireland and take-part in the handball competition in which he is entered."

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Comments (6 of 6)

Oh Flanagan

by Aidan

Thu Jun 19, 2003 19:24

Shithead!

See the way this is press release, like everything else you publish on this site?

You say this is a press release from now on like the way we give people the choice to avoid press release you fucking weasel....

Aidan

-Basking in the beauty of Oscailt-

Question

by Des

Thu Jun 19, 2003 19:46

What on earth is the purpose of the previous comment? the content of the post is worthy of the greatest possible circulation. Even for the Zionists, this harassment of a special needs athlete is really plumbing the depths.

DETAILS PLEASE (links?)

by Mike

Thu Jun 19, 2003 21:07

Exactly WHAT are the Israelis preventing?

Are they preventing him from travelling to Ireland by ANY route? Are they preventing him from travelling with ANY documentation?

Just want some clarification to make sure this isn't a case of "political pawn" -- there IS after all a dispute going on over who controls border crossing, recognition or lack thereof of a Palestinian state, etc.

Israeli refusal

by Eddie

Thu Jun 19, 2003 22:45

The israelis refused to let Lyad Abuelkhier out of the gaza strip / egyptian border.
The rest of the palistinian party had left previously but he was following on later when it happened.
This news should be spread so people can know whats going on over there so I am a bit puzzled as to why flanagan is being attacked over this.

hmm...

by gargoyle

Fri Jun 20, 2003 00:31

Historically, palestinians and the olympics don't go very well together.

Guess you didn't understand, Eddie

Mon Jun 23, 2003 14:54

I guess you didn't understand the sort of details I was asking about. I rather suspect that you don't care about the answers to questions like I was asking for more information about.

We'll try again since you seem to know SOME details. Same sort of "papers" as those who were let through earlier? Same crossing point? If "papers" not different, is there a "staus" difference involved?

Might I point something out? The "normal" route for international travel from Gaza to say Ireland does NOT go via Egypt -- long way to the nearest Egyptian airport. So we presumably ARE playing some sort of "political games" here.

Are you saying that "Israel won't let him go" OR that "Israel won't let him go without documents that indicate coming via Israel" etc.

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ISRAELI DECISION TO BLOCK SPECIAL OLYMPIAN CONTRADICTS SPIRIT OF GAMES

Comments (6 of 6)