Pro-Palestinian protests in Pretoria
Photo: Ofra Friedman, Israel Tennis Association
Israel-South Africa tennis match marred by pro-Palestinian rally
Dozens of pro-Palestinian activists wave flags, chant anti-Israeli slogans ahead of Davis Cup tennis match between Israel and South Africa; Pretoria police called to the scene; South African sports minister himself boycotted match.
tDozens of protesters demonstrated Friday outside a Pretoria venue set to host a tennis match in the Davis Cup tournament, decrying "Israeli apartheid" and calling to "Free Palestine."
The match set to be held at the venue was part of the Davis Cup—the most important international team tennis tourney in the world—between Israeli Edan Leshem, ranked 254 in the world, and Lloyd Harris, South Africa's premier player, ranked 289 in the world.
Pro-Palestinian protests outside the Pretoria Davis Cup venue
Before the match could get underway, however, dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters held a rally, shouted slogans and waved anti-Israeli signs, with multiple police forces ordered to the scene to keep order.
A pro-Palestinian protester in Pretoria (Photo: Ofra Friedman, Israel Tennis Association)
Deputy Israeli Ambassador to South Africa Ayellet Black, who attended the game—joining some 350 Jews on hand to support the Israeli side—waved an Israeli flag opposite local protesters.
Deputy Ambassador Black defiantly waved the Israeli flag
In the past few days, several local organizations got together to plan the demonstration, and calls were even made to disrupt the meeting between the two national teams.
(Photo: Ofra Friedman, Israel Tennis Association)
South African Sports and Recreation Minister Thulas Nxesi, vociferous with his pro-Palestinian positions, contributed to the combative airs surrounding the matches by announcing several days ago he will be boycotting them.
Friday's protest was not the first time an Israeli Davis Cup tennis match was marred by politicization. The same happened in Sweden in 2009, when it was decided local audiences will be barred from entering the venue, fearing they may disrupt the games with protests.
