(ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, NOVEMBER 30 - Israel has threatened to
withdraw support for the planned start of the 2018 Giro d'Italia
in Jerusalem over the wording surrounding the opening stage in
the contested city.
Sports Minister Miri Regev and Tourism Minister Yariv Levin
have taken issue with the reference to the opening time trial in
"west Jerusalem", claiming that use of the term is "a breach of
the agreements with the Israeli government.
"In Jerusalem, Israel's capital, there is no east or west,"
they said in a statement.
"There is one unified Jerusalem," they continued.
"If the wording does not change, the Israeli government will
not be a partner in the event," the ministers concluded.
The minister for strategic matters is also reportedly
involved in the issue.
The pro-government daily Israel ha-Yom claims that the
ministers blame "pressure from pro-Palestinian elements, which
would like to emphasise that East Jerusalem is not part of
Israel".
"The Giro in Israel could be cancelled," reads the headline
on its website. (ANSAmed).
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