Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., April 23, 2009 Nisan 29, 5769 | | Israel Time: 14:20 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File TLV 100
Last update - 22:53 18/02/2009
Wall Street Journal drops Dubai sponsorship after Israeli tennis player denied visa
By News Agencies
Tags: Shahar Peer 

The Wall Street Journal Europe dropped its sponsorship of the current Dubai tennis tournament after the United Arab Emirates refused to issue a visa to Israel's star tennis player Shahar Peer.

Peer was reportedly denied the visa due to fan anger over Israel's recent military offensive in the Gaza Strip. UAE officials said that they feared riots could break out.

"The Wall Street Journal's editorial philosophy is free markets and free people, and this action runs counter to the Journal's editorial direction," the Wall Street Journal Europe said in a statement Wednesday.
Advertisement
The Journal's parent company, Dow Jones & Co, is owned by Rupert Murdoch's international media conglomerate News Corp.

The Tennis Channel has also canceled plans to televise the women's tournament in light of the Peer incident.

Meanwhile Wednesday, a prominent group of Jewish American leaders urged the Women's Tennis Association to punish the United Arab Emirates for banning Peer from entering the country for the tournament.

The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations also called on international tennis authorities to cancel a men's tournament in Dubai next week unless the UAE allows another Israeli player, Andy Ram, to participate.

Later Wednesday, U.S. congressman Anthony Weiner of New York said that Ram will get a visa to play in the Dubai Tennis Championships, adding that as a result he will not ask the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) to cancel the event.

But Yousef Al Otaiba, the United Arab Emirates ambassador to Washington, has assured Weiner that the male doubles player will be allowed to play in the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships, which starts Monday.

The Jewish umbrella group, which is holding meetings in Jerusalem this week, called the decision to bar Peer from participating offensive, discriminatory and unacceptable.

In an interview, the conference's executive vice chairman, Malcolm Hoenlein, said his group had been in touch with WTA tour chief Larry Scott and urged him to cancel the women's tournament next year if Dubai did not change its policy.

"There has to be some price," he said. "History teaches us if you let a thing like this go, it grows, and if people perceive it as a license to discriminate, there will be no limit."

He said Scott was very responsive but offered no immediate promises. Scott has said he will consider dropping Dubai from the tour's calendar. The WTA is expected to discuss the matter at an upcoming board meeting.

Hoenlein said his group planned to contact Dubai authorities later Wednesday to express its dissatisfaction and urge it to allow Ram into the country. "We will have a letter there today," he said.

Ram was competing in a tournament in France on Wednesday and could not be reached for comment. But his agent, Amit Naor, told The Associated Press that his client is hoping to play and has already booked a ticket to Dubai for Sunday.

The controversy has trapped the UAE between its desire to host big-time global sporting events and its stance on Mideast politics. The country sees itself as a guardian of the Palestinians.

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor condemned the UAE, but said there is little the government can do, because the countries don't have diplomatic relations.

In new fallout, Swedish authorities said that Sweden and Israel will play their first-round Davis Cup tennis match in an empty arena next month because of security concerns.

Several anti-Israel demonstrations are planned during the best-of-five series, which will be played March 6-8 at the 4,000-seat Baltic Hall. The city's recreational committee said it could not guarantee security for the fans.

Michael Klein, chairman of the Israel Tennis Federation, said it was a shame that political demonstrators could force Sweden to keep fans out.
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
Two peoples, two states
Poll: Three-quarters of both Israelis and Palestinians want a two-state solution.
IDF's wartime ethics
Internal army probe finds no proof of war crimes committed during Operation Cast Lead.
  1.   awww,too bad,another arab country shows it`s racist agenda 23:33  |  boo hoo 18/02/09
  2.   Rupert Murdoch press... 01:30  |  Maureen Ann 19/02/09
  3.   Dropping Dubai 03:36  |  Max 19/02/09
  4.   Mr. Murdoch.. 04:27  |  Steve 21/02/09
  5.   TO NO 3. 13:14  |  DANNY 23/04/09
 Haaretz Hot Topics
Durban II conference
Air strike in Sudan
Israel 2009 election results: Voter breakdown
Israel vs. Hamas
Iran: Nuclear and regional ambitions
More Headlines
11:49 Lieberman: No point in foot-dragging on peace
12:44 Steinitz, Netanyahu unveil plan to rescue 'plummeting' economy
14:15 Peres: China key to struggle against Iran nuclear ambitions
10:54 Netanyahu's Mideast policy damaging EU ties
13:33 Worshippers find Swastikas spray-painted on Joseph's Tomb
12:37 Five Border Policemen hurt in clash with Arab town's residents
12:33 Three thousand year-old arms storehouse uncovered in Sinai
22:31 WATCH: Daily news round-up from Israel
10:55 Netanyahu to offer U.S. three-part plan for peace talks
10:23 U.A.E.: Giving us nuclear power won't help Iran gain atomic weapons
10:59 Yad Vashem fires employee who compared Holocaust to Nakba
11:16 MK Cabel: Barak has brought Labor to its worst defeat ever
00:59 Actor Omar Sharif: I brought Sadat and Begin together
Previous Editions
Special Offers
Advertisement
Spring Specials-Dan Hotels
Jerusalem from 179$. Tel-Aviv from 223$. Herzliya from 336$
The Meier on Rothschild Tower
Masterpiece Residence in the Heart of Tel Aviv
Dead Sea Skin Care
Quality cosmetics from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 12% off!
Camp Kimama Israel 2009
The best place for your children this summer
Eldan Rent a Car
Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
Jewish Singles Personal Ads
Find the love of your life on JDate.com
Junkyard
Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | | Israel 2009 election results
Site rules | Makom: Engaging on Israel | Search engine marketing
Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved