Pro-Palestinian protest targets Sweden-Israel handball game

Police say 150 protesters calling for Israel boycott peaceful, see no danger of Davis Cup recurrence

Associated Press|Published: 06.12.11 , 20:17

Police say around 150 pro-Palestinian demonstrators are protesting outside a sports stadium in southern Sweden hosting a handball game between Sweden and Israel.

Police spokesman Mats Trulsson says the protest, calling for a boycott against Israel, has been peaceful and shows no sign of developing into the violent riots seen during a Davis Cup game between Sweden and Israel in the city of Malmo.

Trulsson said a pro-Israel demonstration also attracted around 60 people to Karlskrona before the qualifier game for the European handball championship Sunday.

Police had been on high alert before the game, following the events in Malmo in 2009 when rock-throwing activists clashed with police and tried to storm the arena hosting the Davis Cup game.