one of the many advantages of sports is that it unites poeple from different backgrounds. Politics do not belong in sports and neither is boycoting other nations in the spirit of the olympics.

I blame the IOC. If they would have set a precedent and kicked Iran out of the Olympics for this nonsense other countries wouldn't try this. Olympics are supposed to be about the world coming together. If Arab athletes want to only compete against countries they like they should stay home.

The plain fact is that theological and moral factors should preclude the illegitimate state calling itself Israel from competing in the great Olympic Games. Its presence demeans and degrades these classical Games.

a plain answer to those who dont want to compete is f... off

They know the score before they go to the Olympics, and those that dont want to take the chance of facing an Israeli in a sporting competition, should stay home. I suppose they are afraid they just may loose. There are flags I also would rather not see and keep my seat during their anthems, like the non exsistant palestine.

The idea that they are even thinking about having Israelis on the podium winning medals and having them "forced" to salute an Israeli flag just means that they understand how awesome we are that we will beat them and we will be higher on the podium. But to think that they will stand there with us is not going to happen.

A win for us is a win for us.

It's their problem they can't differentiate between politics and sports. One less competitor to compete against. Although, one has to feel sad for these athletes who trained incredibly hard for 4 years and be told by his/her nation's leaders not to compete. Yup Egypt is now a true democracy with equal rights and freedom for all....

" There is a good chance Egyptian players will meet Israelis. Our opponents must withdraw immediately, since this is a political issue .. No Egyptian or Arab will be willing to compete against Israel, even if international agreements are in place " Love it the arabs will refuse to play Israel so if we are both drawn to play each other then Israel must withdraw. How about the arabs withdraw, kill 22 birds with 1 stone or 23 if you count Iran which is also bound to adopt this policy drastically increasing Israel's chances of winning some gold.

on the part of the IOC would be that if they don't wish to compete against Israelis, they shouldn't be allowed to compete at all. It is as Haim from Tel-Aviv says: sports are supposed to transcend politics. If they can't pull that one off, they have no place in the olympics to begin with. Not so difficult, innit?

GREAT! More chances for us to win medals!

Wouldn't we all love to have their ""worries? These Arabs realy belong in the Middle Ages. In the middle of the 'cold war, Russia/US, E/W Germany, US/Cuba, all were competing like hell against each other....like real sporters. These primitivs from the Arab countries only know how to spoil & ruin with their 'principles and warmongering mentality. Discusting people.

http://www.london2012.com/athlete/abu-rmilah-maher-253946/

it's the arab nations who doesn't recognize your existanse by ignoring your country, and your right to compete goes according. sad but true and not new.

greek sports now? they r so great you should put a bumper stiker that says "I sleep with sweat bands".

Israel should declare that it will boycott games against Iran Saudi regime and other countries with terrible human rights record

Better yet, perhaps any country that deliberately refuses to compete against Israel should be barred from the Olympics altogether....although I probably shouldn't hold my breath until the IOC would support such a move. After all, we can't even get those bastards to have a minute of silence for the Israeli athletes murdered in Munich.

who the heck is this reporter to demand of Iranians to know better than Israel our president?

I don't want to send cold water on you, but USA, European countries, China ... etc. will compete against Israeli athletes...

You are right, it is a crime against humanitarian Olympics to not respect the truce... the peace time who was respected by Ancient Greeks.

As a Kabyle, I need to denounce Algeria's stupidity. Algeria is NOT an Arab country! Period. We are Berbers. Judaism is part of our heritage. We respect our Jewish friends and respect Israel. As Kabyles, we value democracy and the freedom of speech. That's why the racist Algerian Government is periodically killing our intelligentsia and oppressing our culture. Ferhat Mehenni, the president of the provisional government of Kabylia visited recently Israel. The dictator Bouteflika, friend of Islamists wants to strip Ferhat of the Algerian citizenship. One day Kabylia will be independent and it will be a honour to compete against Israeli athletes!