NEW YORK – The president of the Israel Tennis Association (ITA) has criticised those calling for Israelis to be excluded from international competitions.
“Israel out of sport? Why? Because we defend ourselves? Should we say sorry for defending ourselves?” Avi Peretz told CLAY in an interview, also published in RG Media.
Peretz is confident that Canadian authorities will guarantee the safety of his delegation during the Davis Cup tie in Halifax, where Canada will host Israel on September 12 and 13.
“The Canadians want to help us and welcome us as sports people, not as enemies. I’ve heard rumours about what the atmosphere might be like, but we only focus on sport. I trust Canadian authorities will keep this event safe. We are not afraid,” said the official.
A letter signed by more than 400 people called on Tennis Canada and the ITF to cancel the World Group I tie. Among the signatories are Canadian Olympic medallist Moh Ahmed, UN special rapporteurs, academics and former athletes.
The document condemns Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank, citing jurists and human rights organisations that have described the situation as genocide against the Palestinian people: “This is a crucial moment for Tennis Canada to promote social justice and stand on the right side of history.”
Two of Canada’s top three players avoided commenting on the issue at the US Open.
“I have no comment on that,” said Denis Shapovalov in New York, adding that he was unaware of the letter.
Shapovalov, who was born in Tel Aviv, will not face Israel in the Davis Cup. He said the prospect of playing against the nation of his birth does not stir any special feelings. The left-hander excused himself from representing Canada due to personal decisions: “It’s been a long season, I have other commitments.”
“I’m only finding out now,” said Gabriel Diallo, who will lead the Canadian team in Halifax alongside Félix Auger-Aliassime.
Tennis Canada issued an official statement: “We acknowledge the complex and difficult situation in the Middle East. Our objective remains to ensure a fair, safe and professional competition for all athletes, staff, volunteers and the public.”
The ITF also responded to the demands: “We recognise this is an extremely complex situation that goes far beyond sport. However, Israel has not been excluded from international competitions or suspended by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).”
Interview with Avi Peretz, president of the ITA
– How do you feel and react to this situation, as a leader of Israeli tennis, after the letter signed by more than four hundred people demanding that Tennis Canada and the ITF cancel the tie with Israel in Halifax?
– I’m not reacting. We are sportsmen, not politicians. We are coming to play tennis and it will be an amazing tie. I hope we will not say anything about politics in the world or in Israel. We won’t say anything, not me, not our captain, not our players. We are training and playing. I have many friends in the Canadian Tennis Federation. They want to help us and host us as sports people, not as enemies. I heard rumors about the atmosphere, but I deal only with sports. I leave politicians to do their jobs.
– Given those rumors about the atmosphere, are you requesting stronger security measures for your delegation?
– No. I count on the Canadian authorities to keep this event secure. We are not afraid. We are coming to play and to do our best. This is sports. We don’t look at the crowd and we will not react. We will talk only with the rackets.
– Have you been in direct contact with Tennis Canada? What have they told you about the situation around the upcoming tie?
– I want to keep the details of our discussion between us. Hopefully things will stay calm. I hope our region will see peace and a ceasefire, and that our kidnapped people will come back home soon. This is our goal in Israel, that our kidnapped people return, and everyone wishes the war will end soon.
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– Have you spoken with the ITF regarding this matter?
– No.
– What are your thoughts when people say Israel should be banned from sport because of the war in Gaza?
– Why? Because we are defending ourselves? Should we say sorry for defending ourselves? For the last twenty years, people in the south of Israel have suffered from bombings. On the seventh of October they came, raped, killed, slaughtered and burned many people. I think people in Gaza are also suffering from Hamas. The whole region suffers from Hamas, in Lebanon, Iran and Yemen. If Hamas didn’t do what it did on the seventh of October, the region would be different. The blame is on Hamas, not on the IDF, not on Israel, not on the Palestinian people. They are also suffering from Hamas. We send food and everything, and Hamas takes it to do business. We don’t need to say sorry for anything because we are defending ourselves.
– What can be done in tennis to contribute to peace?
– It’s not only tennis. All sports should be out of politics. But sport is not that important now. The most important thing is that our kidnapped people come back and that the war ends. Sport is a privilege now.
– Sports-wise, how is your team preparing?
– One of our best players is injured. We don’t know yet if he will arrive to the tie. Of course, Canada is a much better team than us. Their ranking speaks for itself. They are big favorites, but we are coming to do our best. This is sport and anything can happen, though we know Canada is the favorite for this tie.
