KUWAIT: ThePalestinian Embassy honored Kuwaiti fencing champion Abdul Aziz Al-Shattiyesterday at the Kuwait Fencing Federation in Daiya. Shatti, who recently withdrewfrom the World Fencing Championships in Switzerland, refused to play against anIsraeli player.
Ambassador ofPalestine to Kuwait Rami Tahboub appreciated such actions by His Highness theAmir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Kuwait's government and peopletowards the Palestinian people and its cause, thanking Shatti for this nobleArab national action. "What Al-Shatti did is a very big step by a Kuwaiticitizen and champion who chose not to win and withdrew from this championship. Hechose not to sell his principles by playing against the Israeli player. Shattiproved the good position of Kuwait towards the Palestinian cause and we arethankful for his courage," Tahboub said.
Shatti thankedTahboub for this gesture, asserting that his refusal to fight the Israeliplayer stems from his Arab convictions. Secretary of the Kuwait FencingFederation Thuini Al-Hajeri stressed that Palestine and its cause is the firstpriority of Kuwait led by His Highness the Amir, and will remain so until thePalestinian people have full rights and independence.
At the end of theceremony, Tahboub presented a commemorative gift to Shatti. He was also given amedal by members of the Palestinian community in Kuwait in recognition of hisheroic position. The event was attended by the media, President of the KuwaitFencing Federation Abdullah Al-Mutairi, Secretary Hajeri, members of thefederation and a number of members of the Palestinian community in Kuwait.
By Faten Omar