Sunday 27/April/2025 – 05:10 PM
The European Championship for Fencing under 23 years, which was held during the past days in Estonia, witnessed a controversial incident after the Swiss national team played their backs of Israel during the crowning ceremony of medals.
Switzerland turns its back to Israel
According to local newspapers, the circulating videos showed the Swiss team standing on the coronation platform, the mastermind of their appearance during the playing of the Israeli national anthem, Hatcafa, after the crowning of the Israeli team in the gold medal, while Switzerland won the silver team, and Italy ranked third.
The incident sparked a wave of anger in Israeli circles; A representative of the Israeli fencing federation told the Jerusalem Post newspaper that sport should be a way to unify peoples, not to divide them.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar participated in his congratulations to the Israeli team for winning, but he did not hide his dissatisfaction with the behavior of the Swiss team, describing it as an inaccurate behavior.
Saar said on the X platform: A shame for the Swiss team, you have acted in a way that is not appropriate for you and offends your country you represent.
This came after the under -23 team won the gold medal, while the Swiss team won the silver medal, the Italian team won the bronze medal, and after the three teams climbed to the podium to receive its prizes, the Swiss swarms managed their backs to Israel while the Israeli national anthem, Hatikva, was played.
