Kuwaiti Muslim jiu-jitsu champion refuses Israeli athlete’s handshake: ‘We do not respect them at all’

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Kuwaiti jiu-jitsu gold medalist Jassim Alhatem refused to shake Israeli bronze medalist Yoav Manor’s hand during a medal ceremony in Abu Dhabi on Friday. Alhatem later defended the snub in an Arabic-language video circulating on social media with English translations in which he said "Zionist entity" when referring to Israel and added that Muslim men "must have a principle."

Manor won bronze in the men’s blue belt amateur under-77kg division at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour, an Abu Dhabi Jiu Jitsu Pro (AJP) event, after winning three of his four bouts, according to the AJP's official results. Alhatem won all four of his matches to claim gold in the division.

But the podium ceremony quickly turned tense.

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Kuwaiti jiu-jitsu champion Jassim Alhatem snubbed Israeli medalist Yoav Manor at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour podium, saying Muslim athletes "must have a principle." (Getty Images)

Alhatem refused to shake Manor’s hand and declined to participate in the traditional winners’ photo with him. Members of the Israeli delegation who were nearby told Ynet News that Alhatem said, "You Israelis kill children," and added that he would not have competed against Manor if the Israeli athlete had reached the final.

Alhatem defended the moment, claiming Manor had tried to make himself look like the victim by offering a handshake on camera.

"Even though I had spoken to him before the podium and told him, ‘I don’t want to know you, and I don’t want to greet you. Stay on your side, and I’ll stay on my side, so [there would be] no problem,’" Alhatem said.

Alhatem