Ammon News - Ramallah – Ma'an - Palestinian race car driver Rami Jaber was denied entry to Kuwait last week, where he traveled for the Rally Champion 2010 events.

Jaber, who earned first place in the second round of the Middle East Rally Championships earlier in the year, arrived in the Gulf country with a letter of invitation from Kuwaiti organizers of the event, but was told to wait at the airport while customs officials checked his papers.

The 28-year-old racer was sent by Palestinian Olympic Committee and Sports Association director Jibril Ar-Rajoub to represent Palestine in the events.

"I saw several of the other racers clear customs as I waited in the airport," Jaber said. He spent a total of 36 hours in the airport, at which point he was denied entry to Kuwait without explanation.

"Competing in other Arab states means a lot to me," he said during an interview following his return to the West Bank, "it means I get to hold up the Palestinian flag and represent my people."

Jaber is set to compete in races in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Lebanon, Cyprus and Dubai during the 2010 racing circuit.

Born in Jericho, Jaber has a wife and two young daughters. He studied computer programming at Cambridge University and began car racing in Moldova in 2001 when he joined a racing club. The Moldovan government granted Jaber citizenship so he could compete for them in national rallies.

In addition to Palestinian and Moldovan citizenship, Jaber holds a Jordanian passport.

Jaber joined the Palestinian Motorsport Federation on the invitation of Ar-Rajoub. He has already competed for Palestine in Qatar.

"As a Palestinian racer I have the right to represent my homeland at the Middle East competitions this year. The races are tough, but I am ready and sure of my abilities," he said.

Jaber and Ar-Rajoub submitted letters of complaint to Kuwait, but have yet to receive a response detailing the reasons for the denial.