Much of the security for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens is based on a Greek reliance on Israel’s expertise and counter-terror intelligence. Ironically enough though, Greek Olympic officials have refused to rely upon the Jewish State to accurately designate its own capital.
The official web page for the 2004 Olympic Games, Athens2004.com, does not list Jerusalem as Israel's capital, displaying an asterisk in place of what originally read ‘Tel Aviv’.
The asterisk refers readers to a footnote at the bottom of the web page reading: * Please visit the official United Nations website for further information regarding the capital of Israel.
A link to the United Nations page on Israel is provided. At the UN site, Olympic fans are instructed that, "The position of the United Nations on the question of Jerusalem is contained in General Assembly Resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947."
MK Aryeh Eldad (National Union) originally brought the issue to the attention of Israel’s Foreign Ministry, as well as the Greek Embassy. At the time Jerusalem did appear on the Olympic site – but as the capital city of “Palestine.” The Greek Embassy remedied the situation by entering ‘Tel Aviv’ as Israel’s capital and stripping “Palestine” of its electronic claim to Jerusalem.
After complaints lodged with Israel’s Foreign Ministry, ministry officials reached a compromise with the Olympic organizers, by which both Israel and “Palestine” would appear with no capital cities.
Foreign Ministry officials do not intend to pursue the case any further, saying it is the jurisdiction of the Israeli Olympic Committee – who in turn, say it is an issue for the Foreign Ministry to deal with.
MK Eldad is far from satisfied with the current situation. "This is no compromise – it’s a diplomatic humiliation,” Eldad told the Jerusalem Post. "No self-respecting country in the world would put up with such an arrangement. Palestine is not a state, and therefore – has no capital. Israel, on the other hand, IS a state, and has a capital, which the Greeks are refusing to recognize. There are various diplomatic steps Israel could take, if it really wanted to. The Greeks are, after all, very interested in reversing their country's anti-Semitic reputation. The [Israeli] government is obviously satisfied with the present arrangement."
Eldad advocated a boycott of the Olympic Games if Greece continues to deny Israel’s right to Jerusalem. "If this is the situation, I don't want to see Israel's flag flying in Athens," he said.
The official web page for the 2004 Olympic Games, Athens2004.com, does not list Jerusalem as Israel's capital, displaying an asterisk in place of what originally read ‘Tel Aviv’.
The asterisk refers readers to a footnote at the bottom of the web page reading: * Please visit the official United Nations website for further information regarding the capital of Israel.
A link to the United Nations page on Israel is provided. At the UN site, Olympic fans are instructed that, "The position of the United Nations on the question of Jerusalem is contained in General Assembly Resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947."
MK Aryeh Eldad (National Union) originally brought the issue to the attention of Israel’s Foreign Ministry, as well as the Greek Embassy. At the time Jerusalem did appear on the Olympic site – but as the capital city of “Palestine.” The Greek Embassy remedied the situation by entering ‘Tel Aviv’ as Israel’s capital and stripping “Palestine” of its electronic claim to Jerusalem.
After complaints lodged with Israel’s Foreign Ministry, ministry officials reached a compromise with the Olympic organizers, by which both Israel and “Palestine” would appear with no capital cities.
Foreign Ministry officials do not intend to pursue the case any further, saying it is the jurisdiction of the Israeli Olympic Committee – who in turn, say it is an issue for the Foreign Ministry to deal with.
MK Eldad is far from satisfied with the current situation. "This is no compromise – it’s a diplomatic humiliation,” Eldad told the Jerusalem Post. "No self-respecting country in the world would put up with such an arrangement. Palestine is not a state, and therefore – has no capital. Israel, on the other hand, IS a state, and has a capital, which the Greeks are refusing to recognize. There are various diplomatic steps Israel could take, if it really wanted to. The Greeks are, after all, very interested in reversing their country's anti-Semitic reputation. The [Israeli] government is obviously satisfied with the present arrangement."
Eldad advocated a boycott of the Olympic Games if Greece continues to deny Israel’s right to Jerusalem. "If this is the situation, I don't want to see Israel's flag flying in Athens," he said.