Hatikvah was heard after Israeli gymnast won the gold medal during the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup series.
By JERUSALEM POST STAFFDoha, Qatar(photo credit: NASEEM ZEITOON/REUTERS)
Hatikvah, the Israeli national anthem, was played in Doha, Qatar after Israeli gymnast Alexander Shatilov won the gold medal for the floor exercise during the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup series.Until recently, such public hearings of Hatikvah would have been unthinkable in the Arab Gulf nation, which has no diplomatic relations with Israel.The anthem was first played in Abu Dhabi last October, as well, after Israeli judoka Sagi Muki won the gold medal in the Judo Grand Competition.Culture Minister Miri Regev was in attendance at the ceremony and openly wept when the anthem was played. Regev became the first Israeli minister to visit Abu Dhabi's Grand Mosque.
