https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-907570
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-907600
Muslim Belgian mayor blocks Hapoel Beersheba Europa League match
Hapoel Beersheba is expected to play in the Europa League, but it now appears that the team’s participation will not happen without challenges. The Belgian city of Leuven announced on Tuesday that it will not allow the club’s October match against Royale Union Saint-Gilloise to be held there.
The match against Union was scheduled to take place on October 22, but Leuven’s Mayor Mohamed Ridouani told the city council that, while “Union is welcome here, in this case it is against an Israeli team, and I am consistent in my position."
He explained that in the past, he had refused to allow the Belgian women’s national team to play against Israel in the city, here, and the match had been forced to change locations.
The mayor emphasized that holding the match without spectators would not be a solution, saying, “Even then, there is still a risk that people will come to the stadium anyway.”
In response to his remarks, the Belgian club said: “We received Leuven Municipality’s decision to prohibit the holding of our Europa League match against Hapoel Beersheba. We are in discussions with all the relevant parties in an attempt to find a solution. As soon as there is any news, we will immediately update the fans.”
Fear of harm coming to Israeli fans
A week earlier, on October 15, the Israeli champions are scheduled to face Dutch club AZ Alkmaar. However, pro-Palestinian organizations announced their opposition to Hapoel Beersheba traveling to the Netherlands.
“The arrival of hundreds of former IDF soldiers and supporters of genocide is unacceptable,” they wrote on social media.
As has happened in previous matches involving Israeli teams abroad, there are concerns that activists could organize with the aim of harming Israeli fans.
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-907570
Israeli athletes removed from Northern Irish triathlon amid BDS pressure
A Northern Ireland triathlon dropped four Israeli athletes, sparking criticism from Jewish leaders and debate over whether sport should be used for political boycotts.
Four Israeli athletes were removed from the list of participants in the City of Derry Triathlon in Derry, Northern Ireland, the event organizers confirmed on Thursday.
This followed a request from the Israeli National Federation to "remove all the Israeli athletes entered" according to the BBC.
"The North West Triathlon Club (NWTC), who are organising the race, earlier said they could not support the Israeli athletes taking part," the BBC reported.
NWTC had concerns over "athlete and public safety," if Israelis participated, according to the public broadcaster's report.
The event, slated to occur on Saturday, with participant briefings held on Friday, has a "final start list" of participants, and event organizers confirmed that it "does not include any athletes representing Israel."
Anti-Zionist groups, local councils praise lack of Israeli athletes as BDS victory, pro-Israeli politician, Jewish community leader denounce decision
The Derry Anti War Coalition, a far Left anti-Zionist group, said on social media that it is "elighted that the triathletes from Israel will no longer be participating in the City of Derry Triathlon."
Additonally, members of the Derry City Council praised the lack of Israeli participants as a victory for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
However, Julie Middleton, one of the five Members of the Legislative Assembly (based in Stormont, Belfast) representing Foyle, which includes Derry, said that the event should have been used to showcase the city's "hospitality and openness," and instead has "become associated with the exclusion of athletes because they are Israeli."
Middleton is from the Democratic Unionist Party, a Protestant party founded by Evangelical Christian preacher Ian Paisley, and its members are generally supportive of Israel.
The city should be one "where visitors and athletes from every background are treated with dignity," Middleton said.
Deputy Chairman of the Belfast Jewish Community Michael Black told BBC Northern Ireland that Israeli athletes not participating is "very disappointing but doesn't come as a surprise."
"Ireland, and I include Derry in this accusation, has the reputation of being one of the most antisemitic countries in Europe," his statement to BBC read.
He aso denounced the city and district council's BDS policies, saying that "many of the accusations that Israeli is accused of are false."
"The Jewish community's sympathy goes out to all the innocent people who have suffered terribly in this war on every side," his statement noted.
"Sport should not be used to divide people as this has done and will do nothing to bring peace to the Middle East," Black emphasized.
Sport should 'not become vehicle for discrimination, division,' Embassy of Israel in London says
The Embassy of Israel in London condemned the incident in a post on X/Twitter on Friday, calling the club's decision "deeply troubling."
"Sport should bring people together, not become a vehicle for discrimination and division," said the post. "If the NWTC cannot provide safety to all participants and event goers, it raises serious questions as to the ability to hold any future events."
The post also called on NWtC to "uphold the principles of equality, fairness and inclusion" and argued that Israeli athletes should have the "same right to compete as athletes from every other nationality."
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-907600
