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Two-time Loser? Egyptian Judoka Who Wouldn't Shake Israeli's Hand

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JERUSALEM, Israel – Islam El Shehaby, the Egyptian Judoka who refused to shake hands with his Israeli opponent, paid a pretty hefty price for his actions.

Both the International Olympic Committee and the Egyptian Olympic Committee reprimanded Shehaby, 34, a Salafi Muslim whose religious ideology apparently doesn't lend itself to the Olympic spirit.

Israeli Ori Sasson, 25, who beat Shehaby in the first round and later went on to earn a bronze medal, wasn't surprised by his opponent's refusal to shake his hand, though he said he found the gesture a bit "weird."

Right after it happened, IOC spokesman Mark Adams condemned Shehaby's behavior, saying the games are about building bridges, not erecting walls.

"There's absolutely no excuse for it," Adams said.

It didn't take long for the incident to go viral, both in print and on social media. Many soundly criticized the Egyptian athlete.

"This guy's behavior is disgraceful, Jacob Keryakes posted August 12 on Sussex Friends of Israel's Facebook page.

"I'm Egyptian, and this guy's behavior is disgraceful," he wrote, saying Shehaby doesn't represent him. "There's a peace treaty between Israel and Egypt. You never return the hands that extend for peace unless your heart is full of hate!"

Another Facebook post said the incident captured Israel's century-long struggle to reach out to its neighbors.

In the end, Shehaby paid the biggest price. Spectators booed him, the press condemned him and his own government criticized his behavior. So what did he win other than condemnation?

Instead of gleaning the exhilaration and fellowship that comes with representing your country at the Olympics, you're asked to leave. All the preparation – the hours of coaching, the travel, meeting new people and basking in the atmosphere of international competition – dissipate because your religious affiliation doesn't allow it.

The world caught a glimpse of Israel's struggle and maybe that's a good thing.

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About The Author

Tzippe
Barrow

From her perch high atop the mountains surrounding Jerusalem, Tzippe Barrow tries to provide a bird’s eye view of events unfolding in her country. Tzippe’s parents were born to Russian Jewish immigrants, who fled the czar’s pogroms to make a new life in America. As a teenager, Tzippe wanted to spend a summer in Israel, but her parents, sensing the very real possibility that she might want to live there, sent her and her sister to Switzerland instead. Twenty years later, the Lord opened the door to visit the ancient homeland of her people.