Swiss fencers apologize after debasing Israeli anthem at European Final

During the medal ceremony of the European Championships on Saturday, members of the Swiss team, who won the silver medal, turned their backs to the flags during the playing of Israel’s national anthem, "Hatikvah."

Now, they have sent a letter of apology, claiming that it was a "personal initiative" born out of empathy for "human suffering."

Swiss fencers, Jan Hauri, Jonathan Puriman, Sven Vinis and Theo Brocard, sent an official letter of apology to the Israeli Fencing Association, in which they wrote: "After we won the silver medal in Tallinn, a lot was written about us, but not because of our good performance. We competed against the Israeli team, shook hands and congratulated them before and after the podium, with great respect for them and their performance after winning the gold medal."

It was also written: "During the ceremony we did not turn towards the flag in the national anthem. This was not a political statement or an act against Israel. It was a personal initiative born out of empathy for human suffering, when during the ceremony we were overwhelmed with emotions. Our behavior was not right, it was a mistake and we did not intend to express a political position. We apologize to our opponents from the Israeli national team and the Israeli Association. We learned from this and will improve from it for the future."

The response from the Israeli Fencing Association was not long in coming. Yossi Harari, Chairman of the Federation, responded: "The Fencing Association accepts with understanding the apology of the athletes of the Swiss national team. Despite the mental anguish caused to our athletes, and the distraction from their wonderful achievement and the values on which we educate them in light of the Olympic vision. The athletes' insistence and acknowledgement of the mistake, without trying to find explanations and excuses for the embarrassing and irrelevant situation that was created, the matter-of-fact handling of the fencing association, the ambassador and the Swiss Foreign Ministry is respectful."