Protest mars Israel-Sweden tennis event

[oberliner]

MALMO, Sweden, March 6 (UPI) -- The Davis Cup battle between Israel and Sweden Friday at Malmo was marked by protesters angry about Israel's recent actions in Gaza.

About 20 demonstrators braved Malmo's chilly morning temperatures ans gatheres outside the arena where the matches were schedule. The protesters are with the International Solidarity Movement, an international protest movement against Israel's policies.

Some played tennis with plastic rackets, while others held up the Palestinian flag and pro-Palestinian banners, The Local reported.

"If there are enough of us, we'll try to block the entrance to the stadium area and, for example, try to make sure the match is postponed. But we aren't going to use any violence," said demonstrator Oscar Schon.

http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2009/03/06/Protest_mars_Israel-Sweden_tennis_event/UPI-79761236365639/

[Sezu]

1. Any of 'em protesting Darfur? Didn't think so. n/t

[oberliner]

2. Protestors riot at Sweden-Israel Davis Cup tennis

MALMO, Sweden (AFP) – More than 100 masked demonstrators clashed Saturday with Swedish police outside a sports arena amid a larger protest against the Scandinavian country's Davis Cup tie against Israel.

Youths clad in black, their faces covered with masks, threw bottles of paint, stones and firecrackers at police in riot squad vans and on horseback, sending the horses into a panic.

One of the demonstrators climbed onto a police van and, applauded by the crowd, stomped on its flashing lights until they were smashed to bits.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090307/wl_mideast_afp/tennisdavissweisrprotest_20090307163943

[azurnoir]

6. Gee I dunnois Sudan competeing?

or is that just yet another look over there?, yup I thought so

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudan_Davis_Cup_team

[Jefferson23]

3. People are angry and fed up and it will only increase. Also, the US has

sent several messages of concern about the continued settlement activity,the balls in your court Israel.

[henank]

4. Explain this double standard to me

When people were furious at America (and they always are), did anyone stop international tennis matches? Did the tennis authorities force Americans to play in a hostile city with no fans at all? Did the Dubai or any other country forbid Americans from even entering their country to play a match?

Did any of these things happen to Brits? To French? To Poles? To Germans? To Spanish? These are all countries that took part in the "War on Terror".

Now please explain the double standard.

Also, what has settlement activity got anything to do with tennis for heavens' sake?

[azurnoir]

7. As you ProIsrael folks are so fond of saying

actions have consequences.

BTW I am very glad your daughter was no harmed last week but by your own standards shouldn't you be trying to "overthrow" your government or at least protest its actions, I mean when Israel kills how many thousand Palestinians in Gaza that is what is expected of them, why the double standard?
Also Hamas is hardly part of GWOT except in Israel nor are the settlements, and America was protested against the 2004 Olympics come to mind,

[Idealism]

8. Every country you named has suffered from the "war on terror."

It may have not been with a canceled tennis match, but they suffered one way or another. Spain lost 190 people in one day to coordinated suicide bombers in Madrid. The attackers demanded that until they left Iraq the attacks would not stop. Germany was threatened with the same by al Qaeda, and after losing a few dozen troops to an unpopular war, they decided to draw back the size of their force and have set a tentative date on when to leave Afghanistan.

[Jefferson23]

9. Read what I posted,

"People are angry and fed up", as a result they react. Whether the actions they take will bring the result they desire is an entirely different matter. My comment was in response to what is actually taking place, boycotts, protests, in many forms and in many countries, characterize them any way you please, that it carries merit or not is up to you to decide, not me.

As for your last question, if you're even being serious, the settlement activity as it has been playing out is a huge obstacle to peace in the I/P conflict and evidently protesting a tennis match for some is a means to express outrage. The fact that you see that as irrelevant is irrelevant to the protesters, when people are angered over a human rights issue, they often gather, protest, the press reports and perhaps that is all they feel they can accomplish at this point. And perhaps that is enough for some who are frustrated with this never ending mess.

[cali]

5. hardly an excuse. this was a fucking tennis match

these jackasses were just part of a mindless and ugly mob.

[Jefferson23]

10. Who said it was an excuse? I posted a reason, two very different

things. Operation Cast Lead will only lead to more events like this imo, not less.

[henank]

11. Victory is so sweet!

And made all the sweeter by Israel winning in such a hostile situation.

http://www.daviscup.com/news/matchreport.asp?articleid=15829">Mammoth match seals Israel victory

There was joy for Harel Levy as Israel completed a remarkable comeback to defeat Sweden 3-2 in their Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group first round tie in Malmo today. The 30-year-old defeated home town player Andreas Vinciguerra 64 46 64 36 86 in 3 hours 34 minutes to inspire celebrations among his teammates and the small but enthusiastic group of Israeli supporters.

This is only the second time in its history that Israel has reached the World Group quarterfinals, and the team can now look forward to a home tie against Russia. For Sweden it was the first defeat ever in the Davis Cup history leading 2-1, since the country made the debut in the tournament in 1925.

[henank]

12. Andy Ram writes

in Ynet:

Never in my career as an athlete have I encountered such hatred and such blend of sports and politics.

Up until the last moment, the protestors attempted to prompt the cancelation of the David Cup match between Israel and Sweden. After we already landed here, their leader met with Swedish team captain Mats Wilander and asked him to call off the contest.

The Swedish players actually understand us and are quite embarrassed by what is happening, yet these events have completely changed my perception of Sweden, and it is doubtful whether I’ll want to come back here ever again.

...

In recent years, the strength of our team has been its tight-knit spirit, and events such as the ones in Sweden boost our motivation. During such days, we are even prouder to be Israeli, and we shall do everything to restore our honor, which they try to trample here. In this respect, the best service we can do for ourselves and for the country is to win, and I believe we can do it.

And they did! Sweet!

[LeftishBrit]

13. A bit silly IMO

A tennis player has little to do with his/her country's political policies.

Anyway Israel won this one, didn't they? I can think of all sorts of morals from 'Long live the sporting spirit of keeping politics out of games!' to 'If only Israel's politicians were as good as their tennis players!'