Israelis will be allowed to compete at the World Indoor Bowls Championships after organisers were forced to revoke a ban following pressure from pro-Palestine groups.
Three athletes had their invitations withdrawn for the competition in Hopton-on-Sea, Norfolk this month provoking outrage.
It followed pressure from the Norfolk Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Palestine Action and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.
The World Bowls Tour announced the move, claiming it was ‘in the best interests of the event’s success and integrity’.
But last night, the WBT said Daniel Alomin, Amnon Amar and Itai Rigbi could now compete after ‘significant additional security measures’ had been put in place.
The WBT accepted it had been ‘a difficult time for all involved’, adding they were pleased to reach an outcome that ‘includes players for all supporting countries’.
Rupert Lowe, Reform MP for Great Yarmouth, said he was ‘genuinely disgusted’ following the original ban, saying sport ‘should be a unifier’ and ‘above politics’.
‘As far as I am concerned as the local MP, these individuals are welcome in our constituency,’ he said.
Israelis will be allowed to compete at the World Indoor Bowls Championships after organisers were forced to revoke a ban following pressure from pro-Palestine groups
It followed pressure from the Norfolk Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Palestine Action and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Pictured: Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip
If the ban was upheld, it would have been the first time any athlete from the Jewish nation has been blocked from a sporting event over the Gaza war (file photo)
Alomin is due to compete in the singles while Amar and Rigbi have been entered into the pairs.
If the ban was upheld, it would have been the first time any athlete from the Jewish nation has been blocked from a sporting event over the Gaza war.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews said: ‘There can be no justification for this overt act of discrimination against Israeli participants, who are excluded solely on the basis of their nationality.’
The sport’s governing body, World Bowls, which is separate to the World Bowls Tour, said Israeli players were still welcome to play in its events.
In an email to members, World Bowls said: ‘At our recent World Bowls Junior Indoor Championships in Hong Kong China in early December, we were pleased to have Israel represented.’
There was no protest against that competition, despite the host nation arbitrarily detaining over a million Uighur Muslims in re-education camps.
Israel invaded Gaza after Hamas terrorists killed 1,200 and took 250 hostages in the largest slaughter of Jews since the Second World War on October 7, 2023.
The Hamas-run health ministry claims 45,000 Palestinians have been killed, of which Israel says almost half are terrorists.
Talks are currently ongoing to achieve a ceasefire to bring much needed aid to starving Palestinians and free almost 100 hostages still held by Hamas.
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