United Arab Emirates Bars Israeli Star from Tennis Tournament
On Sunday it was revealed that Shahar Peer, a 21-year-old Israeli tennis player was denied a vista by the United Arab Emirates, effectively barring her from participating in this week's Dubai Tennis Championships. The 48th ranked women's tennis player in the world, Peer is said to have applied for a visa for the UAE months in advance, and had been assured by the tournament that she would be granted entry.
The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) said that it was "deeply disappointed" by the UAE's decision. The WTA also hinted that they may scrap the event in the future, which would be a huge blow to the UEA and the Gulf, where huge amounts of money and time have been invested in bringing world-class sports and tourists to the region.
The event's organizer, Dubai Duty Free, which is owned by the UAE, issued a statement confirming that Peer had not been granted a visa. However, they failed to provide any kind of an explanation. Without explaining their actions, it will inevitably be assumed that the decision was made in response to Israel's recent actions in Gaza.
The WTA has a rule that no host country should deny a player the chance to compete at a tournament for which she has qualified. Through her ranking - 48 - Peer was entitled to play in Dubai.
Larry Scott, CEO and chairman of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour,, said that the Tour had considered abandoning this week's tournament in Dubai, but had allowed it to proceed "pending further review."
In 2008, Peer, who did national service with the Israeli army, became the first Israeli to compete in a professional women's tennis event in a Gulf state when she played in the Qatar Open in Doha.
Comments
People need to stop being surprised when Israel is condemned, Isolated and boycotted.
The conflict needs to be put into perspective. I'll use California as an example, because that's where I am. Adapt this perspective to your own area. What if Britain had agreed to give half of California to the Zionists for them to establish a "Jewish State"? Take note that prior to UN involvement the Zionist's stated goal included all of California plus Nevada. Would Californians have agreed to the UN partitioning their land even if Nevada got to keep theirs? What if we didn't and the Zionists took it by force anyway? What if when we resisted we were bombed by an advanced military, and then labeled as "terrorists" for fighting back? What if the world sat back and just let it happen? The high mountain desert where I am would be our occupied West Bank, and LA our war torn Gaza strip. How would you explain sanctions and occupation to your kids? What if a nation like America funded and supported it? How do you explain that? What about the displaced people from San Fransisco, Sacramento, etc, do they ever get to go home? Who would your kids blame for all of the undue hardships in their lives?
I wish for the best for all the Jewish people, but not at someone else's expense. Israel's identity as a "Jewish State" can not take priority over justice. It's time for the world to stand up for Palestine, and justice, including the 'Right of Return'. Peace comes first, it is the only possible path, the rhetoric has to end and the correct conditions created. To move forward, peace and security for all the people is the only correct answer. It's time to set things straight, and make sure the whole situation is finally put into perspective. It's time for peace, and we're not backing down.
Before it was allowed to host WTA tournament, UAE, like every other hosting nation, had to agree to WTA rules requiring hosting country to allow any athlete qualified by ranking to participate.
I hope after this WTA would drop this racist tournament, or perhaps settle for a hefty fine (with some of it going to Peer) making clear next time the tournament will be dropped.
But a lot of money is involved and in addition many people seem to think that arabs should not be held to the same standards as other people, so I am not holding my breath.
I understand that pragmatic considerations prevent canceling the whole thing this year in response to the Israeli player being denied a visa to Dubai. But it's not enough to wait until next year to repudiate this unacceptable discrimination.
The WTA should not count the tournament in the rankings and it should waive any sort of penalty that would occur if a top player decided to drop out. It would be fitting if the finalists had the option to decide at the last minute they didn't want to play.
Why should WTA do something? Why everything must be a reaction to politics? Don't get me wrong, I hate this kind of stuff also.
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