Israel calls Malaysian ban on its athletes 'shameful'
Jerusalem condemns Malaysia's ban on Israeli participation in international sporting events it hosts, saying the decision was inspired by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's "rabid anti-Semitism."
Malaysia, a majority-Muslim country that does not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel, announced it would bar Israelis from any event in the Southeast Asia nation after banning Israeli athletes from the World Para Swimming championships this coming July.
In a statement, Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon calls on the International Paralympic Committee, which is organizing the competition, to change the venue if it cannot persuade Malaysia to lift the edict.
"This is shameful and totally opposes the Olympic spirit," the statement says. "Israel condemns the decision, inspired no doubt by Malaysia PM Mahathir's rabid anti-Semitism."
