The Israeli Olympic Committee is accusing the International Ice Hockey Federation of antisemitism after the hockey organization barred Israeli national teams from competing, citing security concerns.
In a Wednesday statement, the IIHF said it “has decided to restrict the Israeli National Team from participating in IIHF Championships until the safety and well-being of all participants (including Israeli participants) can be assured.”
The organization’s governing council said the decision was reached after careful consideration, including a risk assessment, discussions with participating countries, and discussions with the hosts.
Following Russia’s conflict with Ukraine, the IIHF used similar language around safety and security when it decided to suspend Russia and Belarus from its competitions last year.
In response, the Israeli Ice Hockey Association, backed by the Israeli Olympic Committee, have launched a legal challenge against the ban.
Shortly after the IIHF’s announcement, the Israeli Ice Hockey Association, with the support of the Israeli Olympic Committee, announced that they were filing a claim with the Court of Arbitration for Sport over Israel’s barring.
According to internal sources in communication with the Israeli Olympic Committee, the IIHF’s decision, influenced by Chairman Luc Tardif, was reportedly swayed by external political factors, including pressure from Russian entities.
In a Hebrew post to X, Knesset Sports Committee chair Simon Davidson said that the decision was outrageous and should not be allowed. He explained his intention to fight it with all means possible.
“It is the exclusion of a country as a whole, which, according to the International Olympic Committee, is illegal,” he said, according to The Jerusalem Post.
“Imagine that there’s a Soccer World Championship, and FIFA announces that Israel cannot participate. This is a smaller sector, so it’s not echoing as loudly, but it’s an Olympic sport nevertheless.”
Yael Arad, chairwoman of the Israeli Olympic Committee, condemned the decision as precedent-setting and a “dangerous decision that stinks of antisemitism under the guise of safety for the athletes.”
“In personal conversations I had with the chairman of the International Federation, I witnessed a disappointing lack of transparency and opacity driven by a hidden agenda that has no place in world sports.”
