Palestinian rep thanks IRI taekwondoka

Representative of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement in Tehran, Naser Abu Sharif has thanked the Iranian Taekwondoka, Farzan Ashurzadeh for refusing to face an Israeli rival in an international tournament on Thursday.

Ashurzadeh refused to face his Israeli competitor in World Federation of Taekwondo in a show of solidarity with the Palestinian nation.

Abu Sharif called the move magnanimous and said it was inspirational for the Palestinian nation.

The Palestinian representative said the move came amid a mass hunger strike by the Palestinian captives in the Israeli jails.