Chances now seem very remote that an Israeli team of sportsmen will participate in the Asian Games which open in Djakarta, Indonesia, on Friday. Although Israel was officially invited, no participants’ cards have yet been sent to the 37 Israeli contestants to serve them in lieu of visas, nor have any replies been received by the Israeli Olympic Committee which requested urgently to know where visas would be issued to the Israeli participants.
Israel’s 37 sportsmen are sitting on their baggage waiting for their Indonesian visas or other intimation that they will be allowed to proceed to Indonesia. If these do not arrive by tomorrow, Israel will cancel her participation. Reliable sources here stated today that the delay in granting Indonesian visas to the Israelis is on direct personal instructions from President Sokarno of Indonesia, motivated by Arab pressure against Israel’s participation in the Asian Games.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
