Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely has welcomed Tal Flicker on winning a gold medal and Gili Cohen for winning the bronze medal in the judo competition in Abu Dhabi.
Hotovely said, "The judo delegation left without the involvement of the Israeli Foreign Ministry, since Israel has no diplomatic relations with Abu Dhabi. In view of Israel's rising status in the Arab world, it is regrettable that the Israeli national anthem was not played at a ceremony in which Israeli representatives won. The time has come for the Arab states to understand who their friends are in the world and who are the enemies."