Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Official Olympics website doesn't list Israel's capital
Jerusalem Post ^ | May. 6, 2004 | GILA FINE

Posted on 05/06/2004 9:09:19 AM PDT by yonif

Greek Olympic officials have not listed Jerusalem as Israel's capital city on the official website for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games (www.Athens2004.com).

The entry opposite the heading 'capital' is marked with an asterisk figure (*) instead.

A footnote, at the bottom of the webpage, reads: * Please visit the official United Nations website for further information regarding the capital of Israel.

The comment provides a web link to a United Nations fact file on Israel, which also doesn't list the Jewish State as having a Capital, but instead writes: "The position of the United Nations on the question of Jerusalem is contained in General Assembly Resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947."

Some months ago, the website had 'Jerusalem' down as the capital of 'Palestine', while Israel's capital slot was left empty. Following complaints lodged by National Union MK Arye Eldad with the Greek Embassy and Foreign Ministry, Israel's capital was entered as 'Tel Aviv', leaving the Palestinian slot blank.

At this point, the Foreign Ministry approached the organizers of the Olympics, reaching a compromise by which both the Israeli and Palestinian capitals would be omitted from the register.

Foreign Minister Deputy Spokesman David Saranga said that by this step, he views the matter as closed. Pressed, he said that the affair was still under inquiry, and that it was really a matter for the Israeli Olympic Committee.

The committee, for its part, said the issue was strictly a diplomatic one, to be dealt with by the Foreign Ministry.

Another Foreign Ministry official pointed out that it is not only the Athens Olympic site that doesn't recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, but rather the vast majority of the world, including the US. But, he pointed out, it was important to make clear that Tel Aviv is not the nation's capital.

The official said that the Foreign Ministry doesn't intend to pursue the case any further, and that there are more important issues to press with the organizers of Olympics.

One such issue, he said, is a request that there be some kind of commemoration during the games of the 11 Israelis killed at the 1972 Munich Olympics. One idea was for a moment of silence during the Games' opening ceremony, an idea that has so far been refused by the organizers of the Games.

The Greek Ambassador was unavailable for comment.

MK Arye Eldad, who first drew attention to the affair, says it is by no means settled.

"This is no compromise," he said. "It is a diplomatic humiliation.

"No self-respecting country in the world would put up with such an arrangement Palestine is not a state, and therefore – has no capital. Israel, on the other hand, IS a state, and has a capital which the Greek are refusing to recognize."

According to Eldad, not enough has been done by the Foreign Ministry to rectify the situation.

"There are various diplomatic steps Israel could take, if it really wanted to. The Greeks are, after all, very interested in reversing their country's anti-Semitic reputation. The government is obviously satisfied with the present arrangement."

Eldad added, that if all diplomatic intervention fails, Israel should consider boycotting the games. "If this is the situation, I don't want to see Israel's flag flying in Athens," he said.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Israel; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: antiisrael; greece; israel; jerusalem; olympics; proarab
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021 next last
Website is here

For what its worth, I started a personal thread about this 2 months ago. You can view it here: Athens 2004 Olympics Site Lists Israel's capital as Tel Aviv (3/2/2004)

Some people sent emails.

I personally sent emails to Jerusalem Post at the time to report on it. I also sent emails to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Tourism. Finally, I sent emails to a handful of right-wing Knesset members, including MK Eldad who is quoted in this article. I am glad it finally reached the mainstream media.

1 posted on 05/06/2004 9:09:20 AM PDT by yonif
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: SJackson; Yehuda; Nachum; Paved Paradise; Thinkin' Gal; Bobby777; adam_az; Alouette; IFly4Him; ...
Ping.
2 posted on 05/06/2004 9:09:29 AM PDT by yonif ("So perish all Thine enemies, O the Lord" - Judges 5:31)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: yonif
Just what to expect from Greece whose governments have always been "Arab leaning" (/understatement).

But despite the fact that their appeasement policy they are threatened by the Arab/Islamic terrorists - I think many athletes will refrain from going to Athens this summer.
3 posted on 05/06/2004 9:32:56 AM PDT by ScaniaBoy (Part of the Right Wing Research & Attack Machine)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dennisw; Cachelot; Yehuda; Nix 2; veronica; Catspaw; knighthawk; Alouette; Optimist; weikel; ...
If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

Israel? Where's that?

4 posted on 05/06/2004 11:05:24 AM PDT by SJackson (Slaughter the Jews wherever you find them. Their spilled blood pleases Allah, Haj Amin el-Husseini)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SJackson
Unbelievable.
5 posted on 05/06/2004 11:09:07 AM PDT by fml ( You can twist perception, reality won't budge. -RUSH)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: SJackson
I just e mailed the olympic commitee and told them what I thought about this racism. I expressed that I would boycott the games.
6 posted on 05/06/2004 11:42:28 AM PDT by priceofreedom (On A Roadmap To Hell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: yonif
Are you surprised at this glaring omission? From UN Resolution 58/22:

Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,

1. (The UN) Reiterates its determination that any actions taken by Israel to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the Holy City of Jerusalem are illegal and therefore null and void and have no validity whatsoever;

2. (The UN) Deplores the transfer by some States of their diplomatic missions to Jerusalem in violation of Security Council resolution 478 (1980), and calls once more upon those States to abide by the provisions of the relevant United Nations resolutions, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations;

7 posted on 05/06/2004 12:00:33 PM PDT by Sender (click HERE for Democratic plan to defeat terrorism)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: yonif
In what city is the US Embassy to Israel located?
8 posted on 05/06/2004 12:03:00 PM PDT by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilisation is aborting, buggering, and contracepting itself out of existence.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sender
Nothing the UN says or does surprises me. Personally I'll rely on the sense of Congress and promises of the President. You do highlight a potential plus for the Kerry side though, if you want decisions made in New York, he's your man.

>But something will happen when I'm president: as soon as I take office I will begin the process of moving the U.S. ambassador to the city Israel has chosen as its capital

Presidential candidate
May 23, 2000
August 28, 2000
American Jewish Committee's Election 2000 Questionnaire, October, 2000

"President Bush is committed to moving our embassy to Jerusalem. The process is ongoing. We have not started any actions yet." Colin Powell, March 2001

9 posted on 05/06/2004 12:05:18 PM PDT by SJackson (Slaughter the Jews wherever you find them. Their spilled blood pleases Allah, Haj Amin el-Husseini)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: ArrogantBustard
Tel Aviv. The State Dept is clearly at odds with both Congress and the President on that issue. Which, of course, has nothing to do with where Israel's government is located, Jerusalem. Kindly note the Olympic Committee has awarded "palestine" with statehood as well. Credible?
10 posted on 05/06/2004 12:07:55 PM PDT by SJackson (Slaughter the Jews wherever you find them. Their spilled blood pleases Allah, Haj Amin el-Husseini)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: SJackson
I believe Bush when he said he wants to see the US embassy moved to Jerusalem. I'm not sure if Powell is really on board.

To do so right now would be...inconvenient. Wait until after the US elections, after we display the missing Iraqi WMD on world news, and after we deal with the idiots who made Animal House photos in that prison.

11 posted on 05/06/2004 12:16:04 PM PDT by Sender (click HERE for Democratic plan to defeat terrorism)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: yonif
I never knew Israel was part of Europe. I always assumed that since it was in the Middle East, it was part of Asia. Maybe the IOC uses a different geographical map or has new definitions for the continents?

The IOC lists Taipei as the capital of "Chinese Taipei." Taipei is the capital of Taiwan, officially titled the Republic of China, but the Communists in the People's Republic of China object to anything that appears to recognize that Taiwan is a country.

Taiwan is not allowed to use its national flag in the Olympics. If they were ever win a gold (not likely), they might not get their national anthem played, either. Even their currency (the New Taiwan Dollar) gets listed with the silly name New Chinese Taipei Dollar.

The IOC clearly bends to the wishes of a few dictators.

Chinese Taipei (TPE)  	 

...

Continent: 	Asia
Official Name: 	Chinese Taipei
Capital: 	Taipei
Area: 		35,980 sq km
Population: 	22,603,001
Currency: 	New Chinese Taipei Dollar (TWD)
Languages: 	Mandarin Chinese
Government: 	Multiparty Democratic Regime
Official website: 	-

12 posted on 05/06/2004 12:17:20 PM PDT by heleny
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SJackson
"Israel? Where's that?"

Northwest of Vietnam. Did you know John Kerry was in Vietnam? Yeah, he killed babies there.
13 posted on 05/06/2004 12:19:28 PM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (Only difference between the liberals and the Nazis is that the liberals love the Communists.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: SJackson
The PA is not credible for anything. However, if you're going to rant against the IOC, you should be ranting against the USA as well. Both organisations don't necessarily agree with you as to the location of Israel's capital.
14 posted on 05/06/2004 12:19:44 PM PDT by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilisation is aborting, buggering, and contracepting itself out of existence.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: heleny
if the were ever win = if they were ever to win
15 posted on 05/06/2004 12:20:20 PM PDT by heleny
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Sender
Bush delays embassy move to Jerusalem

US President George W. Bush, who promised during the 2000 presidential race to start the process of relocating the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem as soon as he took office, has postponed the move for another six months.

16 posted on 05/06/2004 12:23:20 PM PDT by yonif ("So perish all Thine enemies, O the Lord" - Judges 5:31)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: ArrogantBustard
The PA is not credible for anything. However, if you're going to rant against the IOC, you should be ranting against the USA as well. Both organisations don't necessarily agree with you as to the location of Israel's capital.

Why? The US is crystal clear on the issue. While Congress has directed the Embassy be moved to Jerusalem (years ago, with Presidential discretion on the timing of the move), that's at the discretion of the supervising Ambassador, who prefers Tel Aviv.

H.R.1950

Millennium Challenge Account, Peace Corps Expansion, and Foreign Relations Authorization Act of 2003

Subtitle B--Basic Authorities and Activities

SEC. 221. UNITED STATES POLICY WITH RESPECT TO JERUSALEM AS THE CAPITAL OF ISRAEL.

(a) LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS FOR CONSULATE IN JERUSALEM- None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act may be expended for the operation of a United States consulate or diplomatic facility in Jerusalem unless such consulate or diplomatic facility is under the supervision of the United States Ambassador to Israel.

(b) LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS FOR PUBLICATIONS- None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act may be available for the publication of any official government document which lists countries and their capital cities unless the publication identifies Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

(c) RECORD OF PLACE OF BIRTH AS ISRAEL FOR PASSPORT PURPOSES- The first section of `An Act to regulate the issue and validity of passports, and for other purposes', approved July 3, 1926 (22 U.S.C. 211a; 44 Stat. 887) is amended by inserting after the first sentence the following: `For purposes of the issuance of a passport of a United States citizen born in the city of Jerusalem, the Secretary shall, upon the request of the citizen or the citizen's legal guardian, record the place of birth as Israel.'.

17 posted on 05/06/2004 12:53:41 PM PDT by SJackson (Slaughter the Jews wherever you find them. Their spilled blood pleases Allah, Haj Amin el-Husseini)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: SJackson
Then what's the Embassy doing in Tel Aviv??? Last time I checked, it was customary to put one's Embassy in a foreign country in that country's capital. Other, major, cities might have consulates, but the embassy goes in the capital. I find this annoying. The Foggy Bottom crowd needs to get with the program.

Of course, I find even more annoying that we have NO formal diplomatic presence in Taipei ... but that's a matter for another thread.

18 posted on 05/06/2004 1:05:02 PM PDT by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilisation is aborting, buggering, and contracepting itself out of existence.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: ArrogantBustard
The State Dept doesn't think the timing is right to move the Embassy. I believe the initial legislation was passed in 1998, but with Presidential authority to delay six months at a time. Thus the President's campaign promise to move the Embassy during the 2000 campaign.

I'd agree about Taipai too. It's there and it's not going to become part of China involuntarily.

19 posted on 05/06/2004 1:20:40 PM PDT by SJackson (Slaughter the Jews wherever you find them. Their spilled blood pleases Allah, Haj Amin el-Husseini)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: SJackson
bttt
20 posted on 05/07/2004 12:11:51 AM PDT by lainde (Heads up...We're coming and we've got tongue blades!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson