In new snub to Israel, Jordanian taekwondo fighter shuns Israeli opponent in Bulgaria tournament

Maysir al-Dahamsheh, the star player of the Jordanian national taekwondo team

A Jordanian taekwondo fighter has refused to face an Israeli opponent in international competitions in Bulgaria, the latest of such withdrawals from encountering Israeli opponents in international tournaments.

The Palestinian Information Center reported on Sunday that Maysir al-Dahamsheh, the star player of the Jordanian national taekwondo team, had avoided confrontation with a rival from the Zionist regime in the Cadet and Junior World Championships 2022 hosted by Bulgaria.

The Jordanian taekwondo practitioner failed to bag the bronze medal of the tournament after withdrawing from the competition in protest against the normalization of relations of some Arab countries with the Tel Aviv regime.

In a similar move two months ago, Jordanian national fencing player Eyas al-Zamer withdrew from facing an Israeli opponent in a world championship for juniors held in the Emirati city of Dubai.

Teenage Jordanian fencer lauded after refusing to face Israeli opponent in World Championships

In recent years, an increasing number of athletes from Arab and Muslim countries have avoided facing Israeli opponents in international competitions in support of the Palestinian cause.

They view the participation of Israeli athletes in sports events as a scheme to help the Tel Aviv regime gradually normalize its relations with Muslim and Arab nations despite its brutal occupation of Palestine and its relentless crimes against Palestinians.

In April, the Libyan national team refused to face Israeli opponents at the World Fencing Championships 2022 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in solidarity with the Palestinian cause and in opposition to normalization agreements between the occupying regime and a few Arab countries.

Back in January, Kuwait’s tennis player Muhammad al-Awadi also withdrew from an international tennis tournament in the UAE after he was told that he was going to face a representative from the Israeli regime.

Teenage Kuwaiti tennis player who shunned Israeli opponent draws praise

Under US-brokered agreements, Israel managed to normalize its ties with the governments of the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco in 2020.

The normalization deals sparked widespread protests in those countries, laying bare the overwhelming divide between the rulers and the people.

The normalization agreements have also been condemned by all Palestinians and their supporters worldwide as a betrayal of the Palestinian cause.