Algeria’s Steadfast Opposition To Normalization Terrifies Israel

Paralympic authorities said they are skeptical about Algeria’s argument that its women’s goalball team missed a game against Israel in Rio De Janeiro purely due to travel delays.

The Algerians did not show up for opening matches against the US team Friday or Israel Saturday, leading to accusations in the Israeli media of a boycott by the Muslim country which is very averse to the Zionist state because of its brutal and long-running occupation of Palestine.

However Algeria’s team spokesman reiterated Sunday that there was nothing political about the absence, saying he was “astonished” by the accusation.

“I wonder why the team would boycott the Paralympics tournament that it has prepared so hard for and which the Algerian state has spent so much money on,” spokesman Abdelkader Kelfat told reporters.

Mr Kelfat said the Algerian team had now arrived in Rio after a travel snarl-up caused by a missed connection in Rome on Sept. 5.

“This missed plane had a knock-on effect for the rest of the trip,” he said. 

However, it is commonly known that the Algerians are very allergic to playing a team from the Zionist entity and Algeria is still opposed to any normalization with it because of the latter’s long-standing occupation and expansionist policies to the detriment firstly of the oppressed Palestinians and other Arab countries in the Middle-East region. 

Algeria has followed a steadfast and clear-cut policy-line on this outstanding issue contrary to some ill-advised Arab states which have fostered covert political and trade links with Israel.

However, following an incident at the earlier Olympic Games in Rio where an Egyptian judoka broke protocol by refusing to shake hands with his Israeli opponent, the explanation was not immediately accepted.

Political protests are banned at the Olympics and Paralympics.

The Algerian women’s team was due to play Monday against Brazil.