UAE APOLOGIZES TO ISRAEL FOR JUDO HANDSHAKE SNUB:

The United Arab Emirates’ top judo official apologized to his Israeli counterpart last weekend after a tournament in Abu Dhabi saw Israeli athletes repeatedly snubbed by their hosts because of their nationality. Mohammad Bin Thaloub Al-Darei, president of the UAE’s Judo Federation, and Aref Al-Awani, another senior Emirates sports official, apologized to Israeli Judo Association head Moshe Ponte over the fact that an athlete from the UAE refused to shake hands with an Israeli judoka after a match during the several-day tournament. They also congratulated the Israel team for their success in the tournaments. IJF president Marius Vizer called the move a "gesture of courage.” On Friday 27 Oct. 2017 the UAE’s Rashad Almashjari refused to shake hands after losing to Israeli Tohar Butbul in the first round of the men’s lightweight (66-73 kg) category. Butbul went on to win bronze, one of several medals won by Israelis at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam judo tournament. The group reportedly agreed that Israeli symbols would be permitted at the event next year, but there was no confirmation. Vizer only expressed hopes that "in the near future we can achieve the best condition of participation for the Israel teams.” (Koenig)