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Seven Israeli players have requested visas for the tournament on December 26-30 and would have marked the first time Saudi Arabia had publicly not demonstrated their anti-Semitic religious views, but it was not to happen, as usual.
The hard truth is, not only are Muslims wildly anti-Semitic, they also cannot bear the idea of losing any form of competition to a Jew.
Islamic countries do not recognize Israel as the Jewish State, mainly due to their lack of historical knowledge and religious condemnation of Jews and Christians. Imagine how they would feel after losing a chess match to seven Jews.
Israel Gelfer, vice president of FIDE, told Reuters that visas for Israeli (read 'Jewish') players "have not been issued and will not be issued". But he added that the tournament will go forward as planned.
Saudi Arabia's Center for International [excluding Israel] Communications said in a statement that over 180 players would participate but didn't respond to requests for comment.
Israel Chess Federation Spokesman Lior Aizenberg said efforts were being made to have the Israeli players take part. "The event is not a world championship if they prevent chess players from several countries from taking part," Aizenberg told Reuters.
Aizenberg said FIDE should ensure Israeli players could compete in international events and the Israeli federation was considering all options, including legal action and holding an international competition in Israel for players excluded from the Saudi limited competition.
Perhaps if Israel had an international competition that included only Western nations and other non-Islamic countries, Saudi Arabia would be singing a different tune. That would be poetic justice, but it would also be wrong . . . just like the Saudis are wrong.
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