World Climbing Federation Upholds Neutrality, Rejects Suspension of Israeli Climbing Association

After months of diplomatic efforts, the Israeli Climbing Association secured a significant victory on July 23, 2026, when the World Climbing Federation held a special assembly to address proposals for suspending national federations amid international conflicts. The Palestinian Climbing Federation had called for the suspension of Israel's federation, but the assembly adopted the principle of sports neutrality and adherence to the Olympic Charter and International Olympic Committee (IOC) guidelines. The vote concluded with 43 federations in favor, 31 against, and 2 abstentions, effectively blocking any suspension votes against Israel, Russia, or Belarus.

World Climbing Federation President emphasized the organization's commitment to separating sports from politics, describing its role as a bridge between people rather than a platform for geopolitical disputes. Israeli Climbing Association Chairman Liad Agmon highlighted Israel's consistent practice of this principle, noting that shortly after the October 7, 2024 events, Israel supported the continued membership of the Palestinian federation, underscoring sport's unifying role.

Countries including Germany, Australia, Cyprus, Russia, and Belarus supported the neutrality principle, while the Palestinian federation, Jordan, and Lebanon pushed for Israel's suspension. The initial motion, proposed by the United States, Australia, and Cyprus, to adopt neutrality and follow the Olympic Charter, was accepted, leading to the removal of suspension votes from the agenda.

Israeli Climbing Association CEO Amotz Paz called the decision a victory for Israel and the foundational principles of global sport, praising collaborative efforts with the Israeli Olympic Committee and international partners to protect athletes' rights to compete without discrimination. Agmon reiterated the belief that sport should unite rather than divide, expressing satisfaction that most federations endorsed this approach.

This resolution follows a challenging period for Israeli climbing, marked by attempts to undermine its international standing, including the cancellation of the European Youth Championship in Brussels due to unacceptable demands against the Israeli delegation and hostile incidents at various competitions. Despite these challenges, Israeli athletes have achieved unprecedented successes in 2026, including multiple occasions of the Israeli national anthem being played at European youth and adult championships. The Israeli Climbing Association thanked the World Federation, its executive board, the Israeli Olympic Committee, and supporting federations for upholding neutrality, equality, and the separation of sport from politics.