Jakarta – An Israeli badminton player has been granted a visa by Indonesia to compete in the world championships in Jakarta after a months-long standoff.
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The Olympic Committee of Israel says Misha Zilberman has been cleared to enter Indonesia — the world’s most populous Muslim country — after being repeatedly denied a visa because he is Israeli.
OCI secretary general Gili Lustig says Zilberman has been waiting in Singapore for two weeks after making an initial visa application six months ago.
Zilberman is scheduled to fly to Jakarta on Monday with the CEO of the Badminton World Federation. He competes on Tuesday.
Israel does not have formal diplomatic relations with Indonesia and many other Muslim-majority countries, some of whom have denied Israeli athletes visas to compete in the past.
Obama learned most of his Islam in Indonesia so it makes sense theyre anti-Israel.