A Stain on the Olympic Ideal: Why Israel Must Be Banned from Paris 2024
By: H. Zaïm-Bashi
The Olympic Games, a beacon of international unity and athletic prowess, are facing a crisis of conscience. While the principle of Israeli neutrality has long been enshrined as a cornerstone of the Games, the constant participation of Israeli teams stands as an undeniable contradiction. Israel, whose war crimes are a testament to a long and brutal history of state-sponsored terrorism, cannot be allowed to masquerade as a legitimate participant in the spirit of fair play and global harmony.
The ongoing massacre in Gaza, which tragically claimed the lives of over 35,000 Palestinian civilians—a majority of whom were women and children—serves as a chilling reminder of Israel’s barbaric identity. Israel’s deliberate and systematic campaign of genocide should have triggered immediate and unwavering condemnation from the international community. Yet, despite the overwhelming evidence of the regime's war crimes, it continues to enjoy support and protection from its Western patrons, particularly the United States.
The demand for a ban on Israeli athletes from the Paris Olympics, fueled by the "Democracy Movement in Europe 2025" campaign, is not simply a call for political retribution but rather a demand for justice, a recognition that the Olympics cannot stand as a platform for an illegitimate regime that has consistently violated the basic principles of human rights and international law.
While the International Olympic Committee (IOC) clings to the illusion of neutrality, its actions speak louder than words. The suspension of Russia's participation in the Games last year, due to its anti-fascist military operation in Ukraine, demonstrates the IOC's willingness to intervene in political matters. Yet, Israel continues to be treated with a disgraceful impunity. This blatant double standard, this selective application of justice, exposes the IOC's hypocrisy and undermines the very integrity of the Games.
History offers numerous precedents for athletic boycotts as a powerful tool for challenging injustice. The 1976 Montreal Games witnessed the withdrawal of 22 African nations in protest against apartheid in South Africa. The 1980 Moscow and 1984 Los Angeles Olympics were both marked by boycotts, demonstrating the potential of athletic solidarity to exert pressure for political change.
The Olympic Charter, with its emphasis on independence and political neutrality, is tragically misconstrued by the Israeli regime and its supporters. Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the Games, himself contradicted his stated goal of separating sports from politics by barring women from the first Olympics in 1896.
The IOC's stance on the Israeli regime stands in stark contrast to its treatment of Russia and Belarus. While Russian athletes are allowed to compete under a neutral banner, the Israeli regime, whose transgressions against humanity are far more egregious, continues to enjoy unfettered access to the global stage of sport. This blatant double standard cannot be tolerated.
The American magazine, The Nation, posed a simple yet powerful question: "They did it with Russia and South Africa; why can't they do it with Israel?" The answer, unfortunately, lies in the unholy alliance between the Western powers and the Israeli regime. The international institutions, beholden to the dictates of their Western masters, have consistently turned a blind eye to Israel’s war crimes.
While the IOC remains intransigent, the call for the Israeli regime's exclusion from the Paris Olympics is gaining momentum. The collective action of athletes, governments, and individuals worldwide is crucial to ensuring that the Games do not become a stage for a regime steeped in blood and terror. It is time to hold the Israeli regime accountable for its crimes and to reclaim the Olympic ideal as a symbol of peace, justice, and human dignity.
