Around 6,000 people demonstrated against Israel during a recent Davis Cup tennis match held in Sweden. The match, which was held in Malmo, was closed to all public spectators because the city could not guarantee the safety of the Israeli players.
Thousands of anti-Israel protestors gathered outside the venue in Malmo, which was protected by 1,000 police officers and numerous demonstrators tried in vain to storm the venue. Five people were arrested for throwing rocks at police. Violence was also reported at other sites around the city.
The Davis Cup match, which pitted Sweden against Israel, had to be played behind closed doors because the Israeli players were in danger of attack. Only a few hundred reporters, sponsors and personal guests were allowed in to watch the tennis match, according The Local, which Israel won 3-2 to advance to the quarterfinals.
This latest move involving Israeli tennis players comes after the United Arab Emirates refused a visa to Shachar Pe’er, one of Israel’s tennis stars, at a tournament in Dubai last month.
“In almost every respect, the events of the past week in Sweden are a sad moment for tennis, for sports in general, and certainly for Israel. Never in my career as an athlete have I encountered such hatred and such blend of sports and politics,” Israeli doubles tennis star Andy Ram said in an editorial in the Ynet newspaper.
“Around 6,000 people ”
Why not make it accurate and more informative by adding:
“comprised overwhelmingly of Muslim immigrants who now comprise in excess of 25% of Malmo’s population.”
It will be interesting to witness Sweden’s transition.