Olympic Swimmers to ID Cards

14 August 2008

Today and tomorrow will see the debut of the two swimmers representing Islamic Palestine.

Hamse Abdouh and Zakiya Nassar, who represent half of Palestine's four-person Olympic delegation, will compete in the men's and women's 50m freestyle competition respectively.

"Our sign didn't say 'Occupied Territories' or 'West Bank' or 'Palestinian Authority.' It just said 'Palestine.' Billions of people saw that on TV, and that's a big thing," he said.

Abdouh, only 18, grew up in East Jerusalem, where he trained in the pool of the city's YMCA. Since he does not hold a blue ID card, he cannot train in the western part of the city.

Jewish Palestinian Alon Mandel competes in the Men's 100m Butterfly Heat 3 held at the National Aquatics Centre during Day 6 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, on 14 August 2008 in Beijing, China.

By HRM Deborah

It is realized that the many colored ID cards came about because of the war, but it is felt that since it is now peace time for all Palestine citizens; that just a regular or unified ID card is needed to identify citizens of Palestine and there is to no longer be a segregated type of ID card.

As for non-citizens, they will not receive this type of ID card, but will be identified as non-citizens; as is done in most other countries.