Outrage Over French MP’s Remarks Against Israeli Olympians

Thomas Portes Accused of Endangering Athletes Amid Gaza Attack

An MP from France Unbowed, Thomas Portes, caused a stir by declaring Israeli athletes unwelcome at the upcoming Paris Olympics, sparking significant backlash.

Protest Remarks

Thomas Portes, at a pro-Palestinian gathering in Paris, voiced his opposition to the presence of Israeli athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics, citing the ongoing Gazas massacre attack. He urged for mobilization against their participation, stating, “The Israeli delegation is not welcome in Paris.”

CRIF’s Response

Yonathan Arfi, head of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France (CRIF), condemned Portes’ remarks as “indecent” and “irresponsible.” He accused Portes of endangering Israeli athletes, recalling the 1972 Munich Olympics tragedy where 11 Israeli athletes were killed by Palestinian terrorists.

Call for IOC Action

Portes later suggested that French diplomats should pressure the International Olympic Committee to ban the Israeli flag and anthem, drawing a parallel with Russia’s ban. “It’s time to end the double standards,” he stated.

Political Backlash

Karen Taieb, a deputy mayor of Paris, criticized Portes, labeling him a “danger and a disgrace” and accusing him of advocating hatred. French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin highlighted the “hints of antisemitism” in Portes’ comments and assured that Israeli athletes would receive 24-hour protection during the Olympics.

Solidarity with Israeli AthletesSocialist MP Jérôme Guedj emphasized that all athletes, including Israelis, are welcome at the Games for their athletic achievements, not their nationalities. He posted, “Of course, Israeli athletes are welcome, like all athletes from all over the world. Not for who they are, but for what they do.”

Official French Stance

French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné reassured the Israeli delegation of their welcome in France at a meeting with EU counterparts in Brussels. He stated, “I want to say on behalf of France, to the Israeli delegation, we welcome you to France for these Olympic Games.”

Upcoming Events

Israel’s football team is set to play against Mali at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, two days before the Olympic opening ceremony. Israeli President Isaac Herzog is expected to attend a boat parade on the Seine and a commemoration for the Israeli athletes killed in Munich in 1972.

Joe Biden's Decades-Long Political Career in Photos

As the oldest-ever American president, Joe Biden's political career is drawing to a close as he steps aside. Here’s a look back at his journey, which began in 1972.

1974: Youngest US Senator US Senator Joseph Biden of Delaware addresses Drexel University alumni in October 1974, having been the youngest US senator at the time.

1972: 30th Birthday Celebration Senator-elect Joseph Biden and his wife Neilia cut his 30th birthday cake at a party in Wilmington on November 20, 1972. His son, Hunter, waits for the first piece. Biden met the constitutional requirement for senators to be 30 years old when they take office. Photograph: Bettmann/Bettmann Archive

1972: Taking the Oath of Office Senator Joseph Biden takes the oath of office in January 1972 from US Senate Secretary Frank Valeo, with his father-in-law Robert Hunter and son Joseph Beau Biden at his side in Beau’s hospital room. Beau and his brother Hunter were injured in an auto accident that killed their mother Neilia and younger sister Amy.

1975: Meeting Margaret Thatcher Recently elected British Conservative Party leader Margaret Thatcher talks with US Senator Joseph Biden and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Sparkman during a luncheon in her honor in the US Capitol's Foreign Relations Committee room, Washington DC, on September 18, 1975.

1978: Fundraiser with Jimmy Carter Joe Biden points out a friend in the crowd to President Jimmy Carter during a fundraiser at Padua Academy in February 1978. Carter spent the evening in Wilmington campaigning for Biden as he ran for a second term.

1979: SALT II Treaty Hearings Before the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, on the third day of hearings on the SALT II treaty, US Secretary of Defense Harold Brown pointed to a chart illustrating the build-up of US and Soviet missiles. Visible are US Senators George McGovern, Joseph Biden (taking notes), and Edmund Muskie.

1985: Mock Oath of Office

Senator Joe Biden holds his daughter Ashley while taking a mock oath of office from Vice President George Bush during a January 1985 ceremony on Capitol Hill, Washington. Biden’s sons Beau and Hunter hold the Bible during the ceremony.

In September 1988, then-Senator Joe Biden was on the metro liner to Washington, D.C., returning to work in the Senate after surviving a life-threatening aneurysm. Biden was seen tenderly kissing his wife Jill’s forehead after announcing his bid for the 1988 Democratic presidential nomination.

As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Biden posed with Supreme Court associate justice nominee Clarence Thomas during the confirmation hearings in July 1991.

In the aftermath of the September 11 terror attacks in 2001, Biden and Senate Armed Services ranking Republican John Warner addressed the media outside the U.S. Capitol Police headquarters.

During a visit to Kabul, Afghanistan, in January 2002, Biden met with Afghan students at Ariana High School.

In April 2005, Senator Barack Obama engaged in conversation with Biden during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Capitol Hill concerning the nomination of John Bolton as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

In July 2005, Biden regularly commuted from his home in Wilmington, Delaware, to Washington, D.C., and Capitol Hill via Amtrak.

In January 2007, Biden chaired a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing titled “Where We Are: The Current Situation in Iraq” i
n Washington, D.C.

In August 2008, presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama introduced Biden as his vice-presidential running mate with a text message. They took the stage together at the Old State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois.

During the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Denver, Colorado, in August 2008, Democratic vice-presidential nominee Senator Joe Biden embraced his son, Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, on the third day of the convention.

March 2010: St Patrick’s Day Reception

US President Barack Obama and Vice-President Joe Biden share a laugh during the annual St Patrick’s Day Reception in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC.

May 2011: Situation Room Update

In this handout image provided by the White House, President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and members of the national security team receive an update on the mission against Osama bin Laden in the Situation Room of the White House on May 1, 2011. Obama later announced that US special forces had killed Bin Laden in a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

January 2017: Presidential Medal of Freedom

US President Barack Obama awards Vice President Joe Biden the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a tribute to Biden at the White House in Washington, DC, on January 12, 2017.

March 2012: A Joke with World Leaders

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and British Prime Minister David Cameron laugh as Vice President Joe Biden jokes about asking his Irish ancestors for forgiveness for hosting Cameron for lunch at the State Department in Washington, DC.

September 2020: Presidential Debate

Television screens at Walters Sports Bar in Washington, DC, air the first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden held in Cleveland.

January 2021: Inauguration

Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th US president by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts at the US Capitol in Washington, DC.

June 2021: US-Russia Summit

US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin pose for press ahead of the US-Russia summit at the Villa La Grange in Geneva.

April 2022: Supreme Court Nomination

US President Joe Biden embraces Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as they watch the Senate vote on her nomination to be an associate justice on the US Supreme Court, from the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, DC.

December 2022: Meeting with Zelensky

Joe Biden walks with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky through the colonnade of the White House in Washington, DC, on December 21, 2022. Zelensky was in Washington to meet with Biden and address Congress, his first trip abroad since Russia invaded Ukraine.

March 2023: National Medal of Arts

US President Joe Biden awards actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus with the 2021 National Medal of Arts during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC.

August 2023: Inspecting Wildfire Damage

Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, Hawaii Governor Josh Green, and wife Jaime Green walk along Front Street to inspect wildfire damage in Lahaina, Hawaii, on August 21, 2023.

June 2024: Presidential Debate

Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on stage during the first presidential debate of the 2024 elections at CNN’s studios in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 27, 2024.

July 2024: Campaign Rally in Wisconsin

President Joe Biden leaves a campaign rally at Sherman Middle School on July 5, 2024, in Madison, Wisconsin. Biden was then scheduled for a network interview as his campaign scrambled to manage the fallout from his poor debate performance.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister to Urge China to Reduce Support for Russia

 Kuleba Visits China to Discuss Peace Efforts and Russian Aggression

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba is set to visit China on Tuesday for a two-day discussion to persuade Beijing to decrease its support for Russia and back Kyiv’s push for sustainable peace. The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the primary focus of Kuleba’s visit will be finding ways to halt Russian aggression and exploring China’s potential role in achieving a just and lasting peace.

China, a close political and economic ally of Moscow, denies supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine. However, Beijing has neither condemned the war nor joined international peace conferences led by Ukraine. The Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed the planned talks, with spokeswoman Mao Ning stating that Kuleba's visit was initiated by China's foreign minister.

Last year, Beijing proposed a “political settlement” to the conflict, a suggestion that was dismissed by Ukraine and criticized by Western countries for potentially allowing Russia to retain seized territories. During a visit to Beijing in May, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed approval of China’s plan, describing it as a “genuine desire” to end the war.

In June, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hosted a peace summit in Switzerland to outline his vision for lasting peace, attracting around 100 delegations from various nations and international bodies, though Russia was not invited. China boycotted the summit, leading Zelenskyy to accuse Beijing of collaborating with Russia to undermine the event. China responded by asserting that all efforts to support peace measures should be recognized.

Recently, Kyiv and Moscow have intensified cross-border missile and drone attacks, primarily targeting energy infrastructure. Russia has been making nearly daily announcements about intercepting Ukrainian drones, which Kyiv claims are retaliatory measures against Russian attacks on military and civilian targets since Moscow launched its special military operation in February 2022.

World Leaders React to Biden Dropping Out of US Election Race

 Global Reactions to Biden’s Withdrawal from Presidential Race

World leaders have shared their reactions to President Joe Biden’s decision to end his re-election campaign. Concerns over Biden’s age and fitness had driven weeks of pressure leading up to his withdrawal.

Israel

Israeli President Isaac Herzog praised Biden for his “friendship and steadfast support for the Israeli people over his decades-long career.” Herzog highlighted Biden’s visit to Israel during wartime and his receipt of the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor, calling him a true ally and symbol of the unbreakable bond between the US and Israel.

Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed respect for Biden’s “tough but strong decision” and gratitude for his unwavering support during Ukraine’s struggle against Russia. Zelenskyy emphasized Biden’s leadership in preventing Putin from occupying Ukraine and his continued support throughout the conflict, hoping for America’s continued strong leadership against Russian aggression

Russia

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow was more focused on winning the war in Ukraine than the outcome of the US election. Peskov emphasized that the priority for Russia was achieving the goals of their special military operation against Ukraine.

United Kingdom

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer respected Biden’s decision and looked forward to working with him during the remainder of his presidency. Starmer acknowledged Biden’s decision as being made in the best interest of the American people.

Canada

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hailed Biden as a “great man” whose actions were guided by his love for his country. Trudeau praised Biden as a partner to Canadians and a true friend, expressing gratitude to the President and the First Lady.

Australia

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese thanked Biden for his leadership and ongoing service. Albanese highlighted the strong Australia-US alliance and their shared commitment to democratic values, international security, economic prosperity, and climate action.

Germany

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called Biden his “friend” and credited him with strengthening transatlantic cooperation and NATO. Scholz recognized Biden’s decision not to run again as deserving of recognition, acknowledging his achievements for his country, Europe, and the world.

Spain

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez commended Biden for making a “brave and dignified decision.” Sanchez credited Biden’s determination and leadership for overcoming the economic crisis post-pandemic, addressing the Capitol assault, and supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression. Sanchez described Biden as a great president who always fought for democracy and freedom.

Poland

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk praised Biden for making difficult decisions that enhanced safety and democracy. Tusk acknowledged Biden’s motivations for his final decision, which he described as probably the most difficult one in his life.

Czech Republic

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala recognized Biden’s decision as that of a “statesman who has served his country for decades.” Fiala valued Biden’s responsible and personally difficult step and wished for a good president to emerge from the democratic competition.

Ireland

Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris praised Biden as a “voice for reason, effective multilateralism, and shared solutions.” Harris highlighted Biden’s unwavering voice and passionate work for peace on the island of Ireland, expressing a great debt of gratitude for his efforts.

Joe Biden Withdraws from Presidential Race, Endorses Kamala Harris

 President Biden Bows Out, Endorses Kamala Harris for Democratic Nominee

President Joe Biden has withdrawn from the presidential race, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to lead the Democratic ticket. This unexpected decision comes just months before the November election against Donald Trump, whom Biden has called an existential threat to US democracy. Biden expressed his intention to focus on his presidential duties for the remainder of his term.

Kamala Harris Thanks Biden and Pledges Unity

In a statement, Harris thanked Biden for his leadership and expressed her intention to earn and win the Democratic nomination. She pledged to unite the party and the nation to defeat Trump and his "extreme Project 2025 agenda."

Democratic Leaders Rally Around Harris

Following Biden’s announcement, several prominent Democrats endorsed Harris, including California Governor Gavin Newsom. Democratic leaders and donors had pressured Biden to step aside, seeing no path to victory with him on the ticket. An ABC News/Ipsos poll showed 60% of Democrats believed Biden should end his run, and 76% would be satisfied with Harris as the nominee.

Trump's Reaction and Campaign Strategy

Trump immediately criticized Biden's decision, claiming Biden was never fit to serve as president. Trump's campaign has prepared for Harris’s candidacy, focusing on immigration and economic issues to appeal to swing voters. Trump believes Harris will be easier to defeat than Biden.

Democratic Party Faces Uncertainty and Rapid Fundraising Surge

The Democratic National Committee plans a transparent process to select a candidate to defeat Trump. ActBlue reported raising $27.5 million from small-dollar donors for Harris’s campaign within five hours of Biden’s announcement. Prominent Democrats praised Biden's decision, with Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi lauding his legacy and patriotism.

Republican Pushback and Legal Challenges

Republicans have cast Biden's decision as undemocratic and have called for his resignation. House Speaker Mike Johnson suggested potential legal challenges, though experts are skeptical of their success. Despite these challenges, Biden's withdrawal marks a dramatic shift in an already tumultuous election season.

Next Steps for Democrats

With the Democratic National Convention approaching, Harris must solidify her support and select a running mate to face Trump and his running mate, JD Vance. Harris's national profile and fundraising capabilities make her a strong contender, but the party faces a tight timeline to finalize its ticket.