Israel calls Malaysian ban on its athletes ‘shameful’

JERUSALEM (Reuters): Israel condemned on Thursday Malaysia’s ban on Israeli participation in international sporting events it hosts and said the decision was inspired by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s ”rabid anti-Semitism”.

Malaysia, a majority-Muslim country that does not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel, announced it would bar Israelis from any event in the Southeast Asia nation after banning Israeli athletes from the World Para Swimming championships this coming July.