Israel Olympic team given 24-hour security after French MP says ‘you’re not welcome’

Israeli athletes will be given round-the-clock security protection at the Olympics after a French MP said they ‘are not welcome’ in Paris.

Thomas Portes, a lawmaker for far-left party France Unbowed (LFI), sparked a huge row with his controversial comments just days before the games begin.

‘I am here to say that no, the Israeli delegation is not welcome in Paris,’ he said at a pro-Palestinian rally on Saturday.

‘Israeli athletes are not welcome at the Olympic Games in Paris.’

Mr Portes, 38, claimed that competitors representing Israel should have to compete under a neutral flag because of the ongoing war in Gaza.

French interior minister Gérald Darmanin announced yesterday that Israel’s Olympic team will be given 24-hour protection during the games.

Foreign minister Stephane Sejourne hit back at Mr Portes and said today: ‘I want to say that on behalf of France, to the Israeli delegation, we welcome you to France for these Olympic Games.’

It comes after the International Olympic Committee announced Russian and Belarussian athletes will only be allowed to take part without any national ties – and cannot attend the opening ceremony – because of the conflict in Ukraine.

‘France’s diplomats should pressure the International Olympic Committee to bar the Israeli flag and anthem, as is done for Russia,’ Mr Portes added.

‘It’s time to end the double standard.’

His comments were met with widespread backlash from the Jewish community – 52 years after the Munich Olympics massacre in which 11 Israelis were killed by Palestinian militants.

Yonathan Arfi, the president of the Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions, slammed Mr Portes as being ‘irresponsible’.

He wrote on X: ‘Indecency of Thomas Portes! ‘1972: 11 Israeli athletes are murdered by Palestinian terrorists at the Munich Olympics.

‘2024: LFI calls for the exclusion of Israeli athletes from the Paris Olympics. Since October 7, Thomas Portes has legitimized Hamas.

‘He now puts a target on the backs of Israeli athletes, already the most threatened in the Olympic Games. Irresponsible.’

Almost 39,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the war escalated in October last year, according the territory’s health ministry.

Israel responded with a heavy counterattack after Hamas militants launched an assault, killing 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages.

But Israel has continued to carry out airstrikes in Gaza, killing thousands of women and children in a barrage which has led to a humanitarian crisis.

Homes, schools, hospitals and places of worship have been flattened and the majority of the 2.3 million people living in Gaza have been made homeless.

Aurelien Le Coq, a fellow LFI party member of Mr Portes, supported his colleague, claiming that ‘genocide is still ongoing in Gaza’.

‘Nearly 40,000 people died,’ he wrote on X. ‘The few to denounce it and demand sanctions are the target of the far right. Support @Portes_Thomas. Russian athletes parade under neutral banner. Why not the Israelis?’

Around 45,000 security personnel will be manning the French capital for the Olympics, which gets under way on Friday evening.

Tony Estanguet, the president of the Paris 2024 organising committee, said yesterday: ‘We can absolutely guarantee that security was the priority for Paris 2024 and from this base we built the concept of celebration.’

Last week, there was also controversy over a convicted child sex offender competing at the Olympics who has decided to steer clear of the athletes’ village.

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Sign Up for News Updates

Get your need-to-know latest news, feel-good stories, analysis and more

Privacy Policy

Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.