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Comments:  72
Last update - 00:00 09/09/2008
VIDEO / Olympic medalist Zubari sparks diplomatic incident after bad-mouthing Chinese
By Haaretz Service
Tags: Shahar Zubari, Raleb Majadele 

Olympic medalist Shahar Zubari stirred controversy when he called the Chinese, the hosts of last month's Beijing Olympics, "shits" in an interview over the weekend.

In response to Zubari's remarks, the Chinese embassy in Tel Aviv decided to cancel a reception it planned to hold in honor of the Israeli Olympic team on Wednesday.

Science, Culture and Sport Minister Ghaleb Majadele sent an letter of apology to the Chinese ambassador, denouncing Zubari's "irresponsible comments, that do not reflect the Israeli people's opinion of the Chinese nation."
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Zubari's bronze medal for windsurfing was the only such award Israel's team achieved during the games.

Majadele also wrote that during his stay in Beijing during the Olympic Games the Chinese impressed him as a "cultured, polite, hospitable and friendly people."

"I hope Zubari's deplorable comment will not hinder the fruitful relationship between our two nations," Majadele concluded.

Majadele said on Tuesday that he intended to summon Zubari for a meeting.

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      1.   Zubari 21:42  |  Jon 09/09/08
      2.   No one can tell the truth can they? 23:04  |  Harriet 09/09/08
      3.   Misunderstanding 23:08  |  Ben 09/09/08
      4.   The Chinese People are Fine - Their Gov`t Are Shits 23:32  |  b`galil 09/09/08
      5.   Not every surfer can be a historian, but..... 23:33  |  Swiss (Dino) 09/09/08
      6.   His comment reflects this Israeli`s attitude on China 23:35  |  Michael 09/09/08
      7.   Brings home a medal, then.... 23:45  |  Al 09/09/08
      8.   free speech 23:52  |  yigal 09/09/08
      9.   What? An Israeli not `sensitive` to others? 00:50  |  Lou Medel 10/09/08
      10.   If he wants to know who the real sh-ts are ... 01:20  |  Chanalau, Tova 10/09/08
      11.   Israeli 01:23  |  Mr Ipp 10/09/08
      12.   # 8 yigal 01:41  |  Axel 10/09/08
      13.   He is telling the truth... my girlfriend was chinese 02:23  |  Joey 10/09/08
      14.   Shits? 04:23  |  johnymac 10/09/08
      15.   too be silent when one should speak makes cowards out of men 05:32  |  david 10/09/08
      16.   Stupidity 05:48  |  Dennis Slapo 10/09/08
      17.   re: Denis 06:10  |  judith 10/09/08
      18.   IQ less than 0 06:31  |  Joseph 10/09/08
      19.   Jon # 1 06:58  |  Aussie Eli 10/09/08
      20.   Professional Journalism 07:13  |  Fairman 10/09/08
      21.   How about a bit more context? 08:00  |  Ilan 10/09/08
      22.   Chinese are helpful,intelligent with initiative &can do approach 09:17  |  PETER SM 10/09/08
      23.   JEWS historically have much to be grateful for to the Chinese.! 09:21  |  PETER SM 10/09/08
      24.   Meaningless article without explanation of comment 09:59  |  Michael 10/09/08
      25.   THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN, 11:18  |  Robert 10/09/08
      26.   #10 and tova the bad should follow her own advice 11:38  |  v.hardman 10/09/08
      27.   `shits` all over the place 11:56  |  Alex 10/09/08
      28.   He is not the only one 14:55  |  Dani 10/09/08
      29.   Take him to the Hague 15:04  |  Herr Professor Toaff 10/09/08
      30.   did it take the wind out of his sail(s)? 15:59  |  soggy liberal 10/09/08
      31.   Human education a necessity 22:59  |  H.H.M. 10/09/08
      32.   No one really cares what he think. 01:15  |  Zhuang 11/09/08
      33.   hahaha 07:40  |  American 11/09/08
      34.   response to Zhuang 07:46  |  an American 11/09/08
      35.   Bad-mouthing! 09:40  |  Ros 11/09/08
      36.   I Don`t Think This Was Funny 10:33  |  Yosemite 11/09/08
      37.   Zubari - Chinese insult 10:52  |  Des Boxall 11/09/08
      38.   Both Countries are similar 16:54  |  Tom Caine 11/09/08
      39.   #10 17:06  |  Jane 11/09/08
      40.   Zubari is shamful 20:28  |  yoyoyo man 11/09/08
      41.   Revised definition of controversial word 21:45  |  Sam C 11/09/08
      42.   find it funny 01:40  |  cathy 12/09/08
      43.   Read the msg left on his guestbook, see the cyber war he started 03:41  |  Say No To Rogue 12/09/08
      44.   human right and human value 04:46  |  all are shit 12/09/08
      45.   Zubari, shame on you 04:56  |  A Chinese 12/09/08
      46.   Zubari spelled out heartS 05:44  |  Edingburg 12/09/08
      47.   The big difference is 06:25  |  LOL 12/09/08
      48.   Did Zubari want Chinese to hate Jews? 07:09  |  Jason 12/09/08
      49.   Jewish ppl have a much bigger image problem than us Chinese... 08:02  |  Chinese guy 12/09/08
      50.   Sad 08:14  |  A Chinese 12/09/08
      51.   To #46 08:21  |  A Chinese 12/09/08
      52.   Palestinian Israeli Problem 09:45  |  Beach Boy 12/09/08
      53.   Hey You! 11:08  |  THE TEACHER/INSTRUCT 12/09/08
      54.   A stupid man in a smart nation 12:00  |  Shen 12/09/08
      55.   Now we finally know how Jewish view Chinese 13:25  |  a Chinese MD 12/09/08
      56.   He`s silly 15:01  |  Huang 12/09/08
      57.   A proud Chinese`s response 18:36  |  John Lin 12/09/08
      58.   Free speech? I don`t think so! 20:36  |  Chinese Canadian 12/09/08
      59.   Chill 21:57  |  clearly a bonehead 12/09/08
      60.   Chinese and Jewish were friends 23:09  |  Chinese 12/09/08
      61.   support the palestinian people 23:18  |  joy 12/09/08
      62.   Not a bad thing 00:36  |  Wang 13/09/08
      63.   Jewish are the most racist people 01:44  |  visitor 13/09/08
      64.   I believe Zubari is honest man . 08:35  |  A dispointed Chinese 13/09/08
      65.   Forgot how Chinese saved the Jews? 00:11  |  forgotten? 14/09/08
      66.   Agree 05:43  |  Observer 14/09/08
      67.   Chinese Anti-Semitism 07:10  |  Slibovitz 14/09/08
      68.   Reality check 18:02  |  Kevin 14/09/08
      69.   Investigation 02:39  |  Serious 16/09/08
      70.   What a surprise! 12:01  |  Zack 17/09/08
      71.   What a surprise! 12:10  |  zack 17/09/08
      72.   The truth is... 19:00  |  Nick 19/10/08
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