Israel Matzav

Incredible: Israel's IOC rep opposes moment of silence for Munich 11; Ayalon: Maybe he's waiting for widows to die?

Give a lot of credit to the families of the eleven Israelis who were murdered at the Munich Olympics 40 years ago: They still have not given up on getting the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to have a moment of silence in London this summer in memory of their loved ones. Unfortunately, they have now encountered a new obstacle: Alex Giladi, Israel's own representative to the IOC (link in Hebrew).

According to Maariv, Giladi said that he does not believe the 'timing' is right, that he won't support it, that he believes it interferes with 'Olympic unity,' and that he will not give Israel's enemies the opportunity to boycott the London games to oppose the moment of silence.

Ilana Romano, the widow of Yosef Romano HY"D (May God Avenge his blood) is appalled. Giladi, she said, could have advanced the idea. He covered the Munich Olympics as a journalist, and even accompanied the bodies back to Israel after the massacre.

Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon says that only a few athletes would boycott as a result of a moment of silence, and that would be their loss. Ayalon asks when Giladi believes would be the proper time for a moment of silence: After the athletes' widows have passed on?

Labels: Danny Ayalon, London Olympics, Munich Olympic massacre

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 4:13 PM