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Macron draws distinction between Israeli, Russian Olympic participation

The French leader stressed that Israel was responding to a terrorist attack

French President Emmanuel Macron Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP

French President Emmanuel Macron

© Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP

PARIS, April 15. /TASS/. French President Emmanuel Macron has stated that Israel being allowed to fly its flag at the 2024 Paris Olympics amid Russia being banned from doing the same is, in his opinion, due to the fact that Israel cannot be called an "aggressor."

"One cannot say that Israel is an aggressor," the French leader told BFMTV. "It was responding to a terrorist attack," he explained.

The Olympic Games will be held in Paris from July 26 - August 11. Restrictions have been established with regard to Russian and Belarusian athletes. They can only participate as neutrals with no displays of affiliation to their home countries. They will also not be allowed to participate in any team events. Russia’s authorities consider the decision on the matter by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) discriminatory and running counter to Olympic principles.

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France Israel Emmanuel Macron

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