Comments (0)Peer Review
January 8, 2010Andrew A. Buerger
Publisher
Here We Go Again: Shahar Peer just wants to play tennis.
Controversy seems to follow her around the world. The Israeli tennis player has been the subject of protests at various WTA events. Last year there were 20 protesters at the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand. The event was held during the Israeli incursion into Gaza. Peer said last year, “I’m Shahar Peer. I came here to play tennis. I know I’m from Israel and I’m proud of my country.”
Also, in 2009, Peer was not granted a visa to enter the UAE, which doesn’t recognize Israel, to play in the Dubai Championships. The tournament director cited her safety in front of a Muslim crowd as the reason for denying her.
At the time of the Dubai brouhaha, WTA chief Larry Scott considered cancelling the tournament. Venus Williams spoke out against it, the Tennis Channel did not televise the event and The Wall Street Journal dropped its sponsorship.
That didn’t stop controversy from arising again this year. Peer’s second round of the ASB Classic in Auckland last Monday was again the subject of protests. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, “a group called Global Peace and Justice, led by veteran protester John Minto, had sent Peer a letter asking her to withdraw ‘as a demonstration of your commitment to peace.’ Mr. Minto’s group is opposed to Israel’s treatment of Palestinians and supports a boycott of the country, including sporting contacts.”
The letter went on to say “Because of your high profile in Israel you could assist peace efforts greatly by speaking out against Israeli government policy. Your silence will indicate to us your sympathy with (the Israeli government).’’ It said her actions can be “more visible than a trade or investment boycott and can have an important psychological impact. We saw this with the successful sports boycotts against apartheid.’’
The Zionist Federation of neighboring Australia issued a statement in support of the 22-year-old Israeli athlete, “The boycott campaign is nothing new. It happened in New Zealand last year and didn’t bear much fruit. This is part of an international attempt to de-legitimize and demonize Israel. This is not going to help the peace process one iota.’’
Granted the Global Peace and Justice group is a small, irrelevant group, and unworthy of much comment. It’s the continuing irony that drives me crazy.
The same day as the Auckland tennis tournament protest, the Palestinian Authority announced it was going to cease torturing Hamas prisoners. What?
You mean to tell me that the PA has been beating its fellow Palestinians for years and there are no world-wide protests of 20,000 or 20 people?
It’s perfectly fine for Palestinians to beat Hamas prisoners with clubs and cables, or suspended from the ceiling while tied up in painful positions, and even force them to stand for days. What would happen if Israel did that to Islamic terrorists who dropped a bomb on a playground in Ashkelon?
Where was Amnesty International when the torture was going on? Where was Mr. Minto of Global Peace and Justice? It seems Palestinian athletes can roam free around the world and play tennis in Dubai or Auckland without protest.
Muslims kill and torture Muslims every day in places like Iraq, Iran and even the West Bank. Heaven forbid if Israel tries to protect itself from global Islamic terror. Boycott. Protest. Demonstrate.
The Chinese run people over in tanks, and we hold the international Olympics there. Saudi Arabia treats women like dirt but gets to host the European PGA Tour golf tournament.
Peer wants nothing to do with the politics. She wants to play tennis like all other Muslims and Christians from across the world.
The protesters should be more concerned that a Nigerian Muslim tries to blow up a plane full of innocent people on Christmas day, or how Muslims treat their fellow Muslims, than singling out the Israelis. Then we’d have Global Peace and Justice.
Until then, let Shahar Peer play tennis in peace.