Israeli athletes will be given round-the-clock security protection at the Olympics after a French MP said they ‘are not welcome’ in Paris.
Thomas Portes, a lawmaker for far-left party France Unbowed (LFI), sparked a huge row with his controversial comments just days before the games begin.
It comes after the International Olympic Committee announced Russian and Belarussian athletes will only be allowed to take part without any national ties – and cannot attend the opening ceremony – because of the conflict in Ukraine.
‘France’s diplomats should pressure the International Olympic Committee to bar the Israeli flag and anthem, as is done for Russia,’ Mr Portes added.
‘It’s time to end the double standard.’
His comments were met with widespread backlash from the Jewish community – 52 years after the Munich Olympics massacre in which 11 Israelis were killed by Palestinian militants.