In a blatant act of discrimination, Indonesia blocks Israeli athletes from competing, dragging anti-Israel politics into international sports.
Indonesia has ignited global outrage by banning Israeli athletes from entering the country to compete in the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships set to begin on October 19 in Jakarta. The move, widely condemned as political discrimination, underscores Indonesia’s continued hostility toward Israel — even at the cost of sporting integrity.
The directive, issued by Law Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra and approved by President Prabowo Subianto, explicitly denies visas to Israeli gymnasts, including Olympic gold medalist Artem Dolgopyat, the defending world champion. This decision directly violates the Olympic spirit of equality, fair play, and global unity.
Indonesia’s justification — citing Israel’s counterterrorism operations in Gaza — has been dismissed by observers as political posturing. Human rights advocates and sports analysts argue that punishing athletes for their nationality is a regression to Cold War-era boycotts.
“The humanitarian argument is a facade,” one analyst stated. “This is state-sanctioned antisemitism under the guise of political solidarity.”
Despite FIG (International Gymnastics Federation) rules allowing relocation in cases of discrimination, the federation’s response has been muted, raising questions about its commitment to protecting athletes from bias.
Indonesia, which has no diplomatic ties with Israel, has repeatedly opposed normalization efforts, despite recent reports of covert talks. Former President Joko Widodo openly urged Muslim nations to “unite against Israel,” while current President Subianto’s conditional offer — recognizing “Palestine” before ties — reveals a political double standard.
Israel, known for its excellence in international sports and technological innovation, has long advocated separating politics from athletic competition. This latest incident, however, shows how anti-Israel sentiment continues to corrupt international institutions that claim neutrality.
As one Israeli sports official lamented, “They can ban our flags, but they cannot silence our spirit. Israel’s champions will continue to shine — with or without Jakarta.”
