Palestine Olympic chief: no handshakes with Israelis unless they recognise state

The president of Palestine’s National Olympic Committee says he will not shake hands with his Israeli counterpart, or any of their delegation, at Paris 2024 unless they recognise his state’s right to independence.

Jibril Rajoub, who has led calls for Israel’s athletes to be banned from international competition amid the war in Gaza, told the Guardian he would not engage with Yael Arad or her colleagues out of principle if they crossed paths during the Olympics.

He also claimed the Palestine team have not been given any instructions about how to conduct themselves in the event that they come up against an Israeli competitor, saying his organisation will guard against any violations of the Olympic Charter.

“Before you ask me, ask them: do they recognise the very existence of the Palestinian people and our right to an independent state, next to Israel, according to UN legitimacy?” Rajoub said. “If they have this commitment, as a matter of principle I have no problem shaking hands with anyone who is recognising my right to self-determination and our right to existence.

“But I will not shake hands as lip service with anyone who does not. It isn’t a matter of courtesy, it’s a matter of principle. They would have to be ready to fight to build bridges of peace by mutual recognition.”

Ukrainian athletes will not shake hands with any Russian or Belarusian athletes at this summer’s Games; Rajoub said no similar edict has been handed down to Palestine’s eight-strong contingent and said there are no plans for any manifestations that lie outside the Olympic movement’s code of conduct.

“The Palestinian athletes and I will follow the principles of the IOC. And if we feel that there is any violation from our side, we have to fight against it. The ball is in the other side’s court. Go and ask the president of the Israeli national Olympic committee how they can encourage their soldiers, how their judo champion can do this. Don’t ask the victim, ask the criminal.”

Rajoub was referring to Peter Paltchik, a judoka who was designated one of Israel’s flag bearers for the opening ceremony and is alleged to have posted photographs on social media of Israeli missiles with the caption “From me to you with pleasure”.

Team Israel did not respond to the Guardian’s request for comment.

Rajoub, who is also leader of the Palestinian Football Association, was greeted by France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, at a reception at the Élysée Palace on Friday.

The Palestine NOC claims that about 400 Palestinian athletes have been killed since 7 October, with sporting infrastructure largely destroyed. That is one of the pillars of Palestine’s quest to see Israel suspended; another claim is that continuing bombings in Gaza are a violation of the Olympic truce tradition. Rajoub said the very fact Palestine has been able to bring a team to Paris should be viewed as an inspiration.

“We could not bring a single athlete from Gaza,” he said of a team whose representatives are largely based abroad. “So attending the Olympics is a great achievement. It’s a good message that we are here, in spite of everything. Frustration and surrender will not be part of our position. We attend with real spirit and a clear message to the whole world.”

Rajoub, speaking in a Paris hotel, cited the warm welcome the Palestinian athletes received from a crowd of about 100 at Charles de Gaulle airport on Thursday in his decision to move freely among guests and delegates. “I walk and move everywhere and I feel secure,” he said. “Nobody guards, nobody is watching me. The logo of my country is received in a friendly way by everybody. Having such a reception was a message of hope to our people but also a red card to the other side.”

Rajoub, a former militant who had a lengthy political career before heading up Palestine’s football and Olympic bodies, does not have a blemish-free record with sporting authorities. In 2018 he was banned for a year by Fifa after urging fans to burn photographs and pictures of Lionel Messi before a scheduled match between Israel and Argentina.

Other controversies include his reported opposition to a proposed minute’s silence at London 2012 in remembrance of the 11 Israeli athletes murdered at the Munich Olympics by the Black September group in 1972. It did not ultimately take place.

Israel’s contingent of 88 Olympians is the only one surrounded by round-the-clock protection during the Games.

Israeli Olympians shared a boat with Iceland as they sailed along the Seine during Friday’s opening ceremony. The president of Israel, Isaac Herzog, also met Macron. Herzog congratulated Macron for hosting the Olympics, posting on X: “I appreciate his efforts in the fight against antisemitism, and his contribution to ensuring the ability of the excellent Israeli delegation to compete proudly and fairly in the Olympic Games.

“The state of Israel is proud to participate in the Olympics and to raise its flag on this important world stage. With every jump and step, with every kick, lift, and hit we stand together with our sons and daughters who are on the frontlines, we stand together with those displaced from their homes in the north and south of the country, and we continue to demand the immediate release of the hostages held captive by Hamas.”