Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed five Israeli athletes whom returned from the Grand Slam judo tournament, which took place in Abu Dhabi. The tournament signified Israel’s growing relations with its Arab neighbors, marking the first times the Israeli national anthem, Hatikvah, was played and the Israeli flag was raised in the United Arab Emirate, after five of the completing Israeli athletes won medals, including two gold and three bronze. “It is no secret that today, sport and culture is being used as part of events to de-legitimate the state of Israel and prevent our people, our athletes to be proud of their country as well. And our athletes gave us a great present, also we reached a Muslim country, with which we do not have diplomatic relations, for the first time and also we sang the Tikvah (national anthem) twice because of Moki and Peter and we signed a Grand Pre agreement that you approved and welcomed, we discussed this a few months ago, in which the state of Israel will host Arab countries that we do not have diplomatic relations with as well. This is a huge achievement to Israeli sport and to the state of Israel,” Miri Regev, Israeli Sports and Culture Minister.
Prime Minister Netanyahu, on his part, underscored the excitement he shared with all Israelis, when the country’s national anthem was played for the first time in a country that does not have official relations with the Jewish state. “It is not normal that Israel returns from Abu Dhabi with 5 Medals, two Gold medals by Sagi and Peter and additional three Bronze medals! I always said that Israel is a world power in cyber, water, agriculture, Hi Teck, IT. Israel is a Judo world power and it speaks for itself first of all as a great achievement for a small country that turns into a world power. Because of your talent, your commitment, your diligence, in my opinion your courage as well, because it is not a simple thing and all these things together impower you and Israel’s sport and the state of Israel. It is true that this time it was done in Abu Dhabi out in the open, and I would like to tell you a secret, when I heard the Hatikvah (national anthem), twice, I also shed a tear. It was so exiting, I don’t believe that any Israeli was not excited at that moment. This thing has very wide implications,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.