Palestinian Authority thanks IOC for refusing Munich victims memorial.

Jerusalem Post ^ | 26 July 2012 | KHALED ABU TOAMEH

[bjorn14]

The Palestinian Authority has thanked the International Olympic Committee [IOC] for refusing to allow a minute's silence at the opening ceremony in London to mark the 40th anniversary of the murder of 11 Israeli athletes in the Munich Games.

Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestinian Football Union, sent a letter to IOC Chairman Jaques Rogge thanking him for his position, the PA's official news agency, Wafa, reported Wednesday.

Related: Shahar Ayalon: Munich massacre changed my lifeIsraeli pride grows as flag raised in villageIn his letter, Rajoub, a former PA security commander, wrote: "Sports is a bridge for love, connection and relaying peace between peoples. It should not be a factor for separation and spreading racism between peoples."

Wafa said that Rajoub sent the letter to the IOC chairman on Tuesday.

A senior PA official in Ramallah confirmed that Rajoub had sent the letter and said that the Palestinians were opposed to "Israel's attempts to exploit the Olympic games for propaganda purposes."

A senior Israeli official responded to the Palestinian letter by saying that "if the leadership of the PA is not willing to disassociate itself from its terrorist past, and is unwilling to see the Munich massacre as a brutal act of terrorism, then in Israeli eyes there will be big questions regarding their true commitment to peace and reconciliation."

[CondorFlight]

“if the leadership of the PA is not willing to disassociate itself from its terrorist past...”

That still won’t get them thrown out of the Olympics.

OTOH, if you send a tweet with a joke and you’re from Greece, that WILL get you thrown out.

[zoso82t]

I’m certain that if the Israeli/Palestinian roles were reversed in Munich (ignoring the fact that it wouldn’t have occurred), there would be a huge to-do over the event in the ceremonies this year. The “international community” is apathetic (or even enthusiastic) towards the prospect of dead Jews.

[Mich Patriot]

I feel a rant coming on here, but I'll try to control it. First of all, only a bunch of unwashed, unshaven, heartless savages would protest a moment of silence for murdered athletes who trained for years and only wanted to compete.

Second, since when do the Palestinians participate in the Olympic Games? I realize they took out baseball and softball, but I hadn't heard that they added grenade lobbing and goat f#cking to replace them.

[Pollster1]

I will not be watching the opening ceremonies - a commercial spectacle that ignores the contrast between good and evil is not my idea of entertainment. I will select a few events to watch online, primarily archery and shooting, but otherwise I’m tired of the political bias shown by the IOC and by the broadcast networks.

Fifteen hours of life story on the perky female gymnast selected for her photogenic smile as “America’s Darling”, whomever might have matched that profile for this year, doesn’t interest me. Similarly, the stories on the great swimmer’s “indiscretions” (sexual and pharmaceutical) and triumphs bore me.

I’m far more impressed with these athletes and coaches from Israel’s 1972 Olympic Team:

Shot during the initial break-in

* Moshe Weinberg (wrestling coach)
* Yossef Romano (weightlifter)

Shot and killed by grenade in a helicopter

* Ze’ev Friedman (weightlifter)
* David Berger (weightlifter)
* Yakov Springer (weightlifting judge)
* Eliezer Halfin (wrestler)

Shot in the second helicopter

* Yossef Gutfreund (wrestling referee)
* Kehat Shorr (shooting coach)
* Mark Slavin (wrestler)
* Andre Spitzer (fencing coach)
* Amitzur Shapira (track coach)

If these people are not considered worthy of recognition by the organizers, if they care more about the feelings of the murders and those who celebrate this mass murder than about decent people, then their performance is not worthy of my recognition.

[Harley]

What is the IOC going to say when the London Olympics are a big flop? If it comes down to watching anything Olympics or reruns of Who’s the Boss, it’s going to be Hello Tony Danza for me. From the Chinese uniforms to Michelle Obama’s summer vacation to London, I’m not interested.

[QQQQ]

Thank you.I knew the parents and family of the Late Mark Slavin.

[pabianice]

I urge the Israeli athletes, during the entry parade, to stop dead in their tracks and stay where they are with their heads bowed for one minute. Would stop the entrance and make a powerful and just political statement.

[Pollster1]

I also knew some people who were involved, although none of the dead. This was an act of pure evil, and it is taught in “Palestinian” history as a great victory.

[kabumpo]

“Sports is a bridge for love, connection and relaying peace between peoples. It should not be a factor for separation and spreading racism between peoples.”

I think Nijinsky said it better: “Sports is the death of art.”

[Moltke]

OTOH, if you send a tweet with a joke and you’re from Greece, that WILL get you thrown out.

By her own team, I believe, not the IOC.