The World Bowls Tour - which is set to take place in Britain - has “banned” Israeli competitors after a “concerted campaign from a pro-Palestine mob”.
The organisers have said that, as a result of the World Bowls Tour directors facing challenges “regarding the involvement of Israeli bowlers” at a previous event in Scotland, “there has been a significant escalation in related political concerns”.
Earlier this year in November, Israeli representative Shalom Ben Ami withdrew from the Scottish International Open which was taking place in West Lothian after over 4,000 protestors signed a petition to exclude the player.
Now, directors' concerns have affected the World Indoor Championships, which will take place on January 10 and 26 at Potters Resorts, Hopton on Sea, Norfolk as the organisers have added: “As a result of the intensity of the situation, the WBT Board, in consultation with our event partners and other relevant stakeholders, has made the difficult decision to withdraw the invitation for Israel to participate in the forthcoming World Indoor Championships.”
Local MP Rupert Lowe has blasted the decision, deeming it to be “pure insanity”.
Commenting on the event which is scheduled to take place within his seaside constituency of Great Yarmouth, the Reform UK MP explained that the decision followed “a concerted campaign from the pro-Palestine mob to have these Israelis barred from competing”.
He added: “I am genuinely disgusted. As far as I am concerned as the local MP, these individuals are welcome in our constituency.
“What message does this send? If the mob screams and shouts, they can get competitors of a certain nationality banned from entry?
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“It is insanity, pure insanity. The organisers are cowards.”
He vowed that, as the area’s MP, he would “fight this outrageous decision”.
The decision by the WBT has directly affected three people so far, including Daniel Alomin, Amnon Amar and Itai Rigbi - all of whom were meant to play in either the World Singles or the World Open pairs.
The statement by the organisation explained that the decisions “was not taken lightly” and was made “in the best interests of the event’s success and integrity”.
In the same announcement in which it commits to the exclusion of Israeli bowlers from the game, it maintained that bowls was a sport that “unites people”.
Journalist Nicole Lampert was another who hit out at the statement, sharing online: “Bowls appears to be a sedate sport. Perhaps that’s why they’ve so easily rolled over to bullies.
“After a campaign to get an Israeli banned from a competition in Scotland had success - he pulled out - the English championship has decided it doesn’t want the hassle of pro Palestine campaigners outside their venues chanting ‘from the river to the sea’ (something not all of us have a choice over).
“This is how bullies win. Because people let them."
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The organisers have said that, as a result of the World Bowls Tour directors facing challenges “regarding the involvement of Israeli bowlers” at a previous event in Scotland, “there has been a significant escalation in related political concerns”.
Earlier this year in November, Israeli representative Shalom Ben Ami withdrew from the Scottish International Open which was taking place in West Lothian after over 4,000 protestors signed a petition to exclude the player.
Now, directors' concerns have affected the World Indoor Championships, which will take place on January 10 and 26 at Potters Resorts, Hopton on Sea, Norfolk as the organisers have added: “As a result of the intensity of the situation, the WBT Board, in consultation with our event partners and other relevant stakeholders, has made the difficult decision to withdraw the invitation for Israel to participate in the forthcoming World Indoor Championships.”
Local MP Rupert Lowe has blasted the decision, deeming it to be “pure insanity”.
Commenting on the event which is scheduled to take place within his seaside constituency of Great Yarmouth, the Reform UK MP explained that the decision followed “a concerted campaign from the pro-Palestine mob to have these Israelis barred from competing”.
He added: “I am genuinely disgusted. As far as I am concerned as the local MP, these individuals are welcome in our constituency.
“What message does this send? If the mob screams and shouts, they can get competitors of a certain nationality banned from entry?
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“It is insanity, pure insanity. The organisers are cowards.”
He vowed that, as the area’s MP, he would “fight this outrageous decision”.
The decision by the WBT has directly affected three people so far, including Daniel Alomin, Amnon Amar and Itai Rigbi - all of whom were meant to play in either the World Singles or the World Open pairs.
The statement by the organisation explained that the decisions “was not taken lightly” and was made “in the best interests of the event’s success and integrity”.
In the same announcement in which it commits to the exclusion of Israeli bowlers from the game, it maintained that bowls was a sport that “unites people”.
Journalist Nicole Lampert was another who hit out at the statement, sharing online: “Bowls appears to be a sedate sport. Perhaps that’s why they’ve so easily rolled over to bullies.
“After a campaign to get an Israeli banned from a competition in Scotland had success - he pulled out - the English championship has decided it doesn’t want the hassle of pro Palestine campaigners outside their venues chanting ‘from the river to the sea’ (something not all of us have a choice over).
“This is how bullies win. Because people let them."
Find Out More...