Pod Save America Hosts Call on Democrats to Cut All Israel Military Aid, No Longer Accept AIPAC Funding
Jews, Israelis Targeted in Austria Amid Surge in Antisemitic Incidents; Local Jewish Community Calls for Action
‘All of Our Strength’: Over 1,000 Pro-Israel Activists Gather in DC for Solidarity Conference
‘Devastated’: Wesley LePatner, Killed in Manhattan Mass Shooting, Was a Jewish Communal, Philanthropic Leader
Sen. Angus King Vows to No Longer Vote for Israel Military Aid Until Gaza Conditions Improve
Europe Won’t Pressure Israel to ‘Commit Suicide’ Amid Gaza Backlash, Palestinian State Push, Says Israeli FM
Israel’s National Soccer Coach Attacked in Athens Before Soccer Fans Chant ‘F–K Israel, Free Palestine’ at Match
New York Judge Sentences Neo-Nazi to 5 Years for Livestreaming Bomb Threats Against Jewish Hospitals
US Pressures Lebanon to Issue Cabinet Decision to Disarm Hezbollah Before Talks Continue
UK Plans to Recognize Palestinian State in September Unless Israel Meets Conditions, Starmer Says
International Olympic Committee Examines Israeli Medalist Peter Paltchik for IDF Support
by Shiryn Ghermezian
Paris 2024 Olympics – Judo – Men -100 kg Victory Ceremony – Champ-de-Mars Arena, Paris, France – August 01, 2024. Bronze medallist Peter Paltchik of Israel celebrates on the podium. Photo: REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is examining the controversy surrounding a social media post uploaded by Israeli judoka and Olympic medalist Peter Paltchik that showed support for Israel attacking Hamas terrorists, the Swiss newspaper Le Matin reported on Sunday.
Paltchik won the bronze medal in the men’s under-100kg category at the Olympic Games in Paris on Thursday. The 32-year-old was also one of Israel’s flag bearers during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.
After the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack in Israel, the Ukrainian-born athlete shared on social media a photo of several Israeli missiles that were signed with messages, including one that compared Hamas to the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist organization and also said “Ippon,” which is the highest score achievable in judo and automatically ends a match. Paltchik wrote in the caption of the photo, “From me to you with pleasure #HamasisISIS #IsraelAtWar.” The photo was later deleted but still upset many Hamas supporters and anti-Israel activists. It was even mentioned by the president of the Palestinian National Olympic Committee. Paltchik also praised Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers in a pre-Olympics interview shared by StandWithUs.
The IOC told Le Matin it is “in contact” with the Israeli Olympic Committee about the “sensitive issue,” but did not comment on possible sanctions that Paltchik could face.
Yael Arad, a former judoka and Olympic medalist who is now the president of Israel’s Olympic Committee, defended Paltchik and his since-deleted social media post, saying about the rockets in the photo: “It’s not against a country. It’s not against a people, it’s against a terrorist organization.” Arad also said that Paltchik did not write any of the messages shown on the rockets in the photograph.
IOC Communications Director Mark Adams was asked at the IOC daily briefing on Aug. 2 about Paltchik’s behavior and in his reply, he reminded National Olympic Committees to follow Olympic guidelines, Le Matin reported. “We will wait and see what happens,” Adams added, when asked about possible repercussions for Paltchik.
Paltchik’s bronze medal win on Thursday was his second Olympic medal, following a team bronze medal win in the Tokyo Olympics. His coach is Oren Smadga, whose son was killed in combat in June while fighting with the IDF in Gaza.
