Sports officials support decision to refuse Peer entry

Dubai: Prominent Emirati sporting personalities and a top Palestinian sporting official stood by a decision to refuse entry to Israeli sportspeople.

They cited the plight of Palestinian sportspeople and the defence of the UAE's sovereignty for their stance. It is against the law for Israelis to enter the country.

An international outcry followed the UAE's refusal to grant a visa to Israeli tennis player Shahar Peer, who was expected to play in the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) tournament earlier this month. The WTA subsequently fined organizers $300,000.

While criticism of the UAE's decision centred on what some called the unfair mixing of sports and politicis, UAE sporting personalities said that exceptions should be made.

Ebrahim Abdul Malek, General Secretary of the UAE National Olympic Committee said that sporting bodies should not interfere with a country's right to make and implement its laws.

“Sport should not be allowed to interfere with sovereignty. International bodies governing sport should realise that. Even the USA, which is regarded as the leader of the free word, has in some incidents denied athletes visas,'' said Abdul Malek.

Former member of the board of directors of the UAE Football Association, Ali Bujsaim said: “We have to make the balance between sports and politics without affecting our sovereignty although we are under pressure from international federations who want all to participate in the championships without putting in consideration whether you have diplomatic ties or not''..

Chairman of the Palestinian Football Association and member of the Palestinian Olympic Committee Jibril Rajoub said he supported the UAE's decision to ban Peer and encouraged other states to do the same in order to pressure Israel to ease restrictions on Palestinians.

“We appreciate this move and hope that each country in the world will not host any Israeli sportsman as long as Palestinian sport is under siege,'' he said.

He cited the first international Palestinian football match ever to be played on home soil in Al Ram in October last year, where the captain of the Palestinian team was not allowed by Israel to travel from his home in Gaza to the West Bank town.

Rajoub added that Palestinian sportspeople faced many difficulties in travelling between Gaza and the West Bank as well as travelling abroad. Even within the West Bank, he said, it could take a sportsman from Hebron two days to travel to Jenin.

“There is a need for the international community to review its policies towards Israel. No Israeli sportsperson should be hosted if Israel does not agree to free Palestinian sport from suppression and injustice,'' said Rajoub.

Meanwhile, Palestinian activists in Dubai said they supported the decision not to grant Peer a visa.

Jabbar Khatib, a Palestinian rapper said he understood that sports and politics should not mix but that exceptions should be made.

“We can't let Israeli sportspeople in and not allow any other Israelis. It should either be a completely open relationship or not,'' he said.

Dalia Khadra, a Palestinian activist, echoed the argument that allowing access to one Israeli sets a precedent for others. “If we allow one Israeli to enter, we would loose our argument in barring entry to other Israelis,'' she said.

- with additional inputs from Yasir Abbasher and Sayed Ali, Staff Reporter