Culture and Sports Minister Miri Regev will likely travel with the national judo team later this month to the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam tournament in the United Arab Emirates, a country which has no diplomatic ties with Israel, Hebrew media reports said Wednesday.
The trip would come a year after Israel was snubbed at the international judo tournament, with Israeli medal-winners not allowed to display their flag or have their national anthem play.
Organizers promised to change the policy earlier this year after an outcry.
Israeli judo chief Moshe Ponte, left, with IJC head Marius Vizer, second left, and two Emirates sports officials meeting in Abu Dhabi on October 28, 2017, (IJF)
Regev’s attendance at the event is contingent upon the necessary security arrangements being made by the Shin Bet intelligence agency and the UAE, according to the Kan public broadcaster, adding she will be joined by Yossi Sharabi, the director-general of her ministry.
In a letter dated October 2 published by the Ynet news site, the president of the International Judo Federation invited Regev to the Abu Dhabi tournament in order to sign an agreement to host the Tel Aviv Grand Prix.
“The International Judo Federation will make all the necessary arrangements for your visit,” Marius Vizer wrote in the letter.
There was no immediate confirmation from Regev on whether she would attend the tournament in Abu Dhabi, which will take place on October 27-29.
— Alexander Fulbright
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