Jewish leaders: Punish UAE for banning tennis star

Tournament organizers denied a visa over security concerns.

JERUSALEM (AP) — A prominent group of Jewish American leaders urged the Women’s Tennis Association on Wednesday to punish the United Arab Emirates for barring an Israeli player from entering the country for a tournament this week.

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

Organizers of the Dubai Tennis Championships have said Shahar Peer was denied a visa last weekend due to security concerns. They said they feared riots could break out over Israel’s recent military offensive in the Gaza Strip.

The Jewish umbrella group, which is holding meetings in Jerusalem this week, called the decision “offensive, discriminatory and unacceptable.”

In an interview, the conference’s executive vice chairman said his group had urged WTA tour chief Larry Scott to cancel the women’s tournament next year if Dubai did not change its policy.

“There has to be some price,” Malcolm Hoenlein 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, one of the world’s top doubles players, into the country.