The New York Times reports that Israeli athletes participating in the Paris Olympics are facing heightened security measures following the recent assassinations of high-ranking figures in Hamas and Hezbollah. The already substantial protection for the Israeli team has been further intensified due to concerns arising from recent military actions and political tensions.
According to the report, Israeli athletes were already moving around the Paris Games with significant security, but recent developments have led to increased concerns. On Saturday, a Hezbollah rocket strike hit a soccer field in Majdal Shams, a village in the Golan Heights, killing 12 children and teenagers. Subsequently, a retaliatory Israeli airstrike killed a high-ranking Hezbollah commander near Beirut on Tuesday.
The situation escalated further on Wednesday when Hamas and Iran accused Israel of assassinating Ismail Haniyeh, a senior Hamas leader.
Shmulik Philosof, a former head of a Shin Bet unit responsible for securing Israeli delegations and of The Homeland Security Academy at Levinsky-Wingate Academic College, told The New York Times, "There's no doubt that an attack by Hezbollah, which knows and is capable of operating abroad, should increase the level of security provided to the delegation."
The Israeli team has been under heightened protection at every Olympics since the tragic events at the 1972 Munich Games, where 11 Israeli athletes and coaches were killed by Palestinian terrorists. However, concerns have significantly increased since Oct. 7, due to ongoing regional conflicts and global protests.
Mark Adams, a spokesperson for the International Olympic Committee, declined to comment on specific security measures but assured, "Rest assured there is very good, very strong security."
The French authorities have assigned a special team to protect the Israeli delegation, as has been the practice in previous Olympics. However, Philosof noted, "Our policy is not to rely solely on local security anywhere, ever." Israel is one of the few nations that supplement host country security with their own operations.
Israeli athletes have been preparing for an unusual Olympic experience, expecting their time at the Games to be marked by protests, heavy security, and intense scrutiny. Maor Tiyouri, an Israeli marathoner, shared her perspective with The New York Times: "It's a bummer, but it is what it is." She explained that she avoids wearing national gear when traveling and has covered the Israeli flag on her team backpack.
Despite the challenges, athletes are trying to focus on the joy of participating in the Olympics. Itamar Einhorn, an Israeli cyclist in his first Olympics, told The New York Times that while news from home affects him, "This is a very special experience."
The situation highlights the complex interplay between sports and geopolitics, as athletes strive to compete at the highest level while navigating security concerns and political tensions.
