AP Columnist Jim Litke responds:
Mehammed:
Thanks for the thoughtful note.
No right-thinking person disputes the carnage in Gaza, only the root
causes. The same is true about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict going
back centuries, which is why I didn’t go into it. Likewise, I could
argue the comparisons to South Africa are specious, but certain I
wouldn’t convince you no matter how much I write. Since Lapchick was the
most visible and effective leader of the US boycott against South Africa
for years _ as experienced and expert a voice as there is on the matter
_ I hoped readers would treat his opinion would accordingly.Regarding unanimity, Lapchick’s current job is to stay abreast of
everything that takes place off the field around the world and few
people in sport are half as well wired or up-to-date. Also, I’m
fortunate enough to travel often to Europe and Asia for sporting events
and have been for the past 20 years and old enough to have been around
for the South African boycott. Even if America is Israel’s only vocal
supporter (no small matter, by the way), the level of enmity outside the
Middle East is nowhere near as uniform or deep as it was regarding South
Africa. Frankly, I wouldn’t put much stock in the Europeans’ shifting
sympathies, either. They’re expressing solidarity with the Palestinians
now; for decades, they were Israel’s fiercest supporters.The phrase “war against Islamic militants” was taken verbatim from the
AP report filed on the European Cup game in Ankara last month by one of
native Turkish reporters. It’s another issue, I’m afraid, where we’ll
disagree. One man’s “militant” is another man’s “terrorist” and a
“freedom fighter” to a third. The AP doesn’t take such matters lightly,
so if nothing else, I can assure you a great deal of thought/debate has
gone into how the conflict is described.I haven’t agreed with any Olympic boycott _ not when Arab nations
withdrew from Melbourse in 1956, or when the US and the then-Soviet
Union played tit-for-tat in the 1980s. Ultimately, I suppose, that was
my larger point. Once calls for a boycott gain momentum, it hardens
hearts and deepens existing rifts. We’re already far down that road and
if it was my call, I’d force the federations and tournament organizers
to vote now _ up or down _ so everybody can adjust accordingly.Good luck with the Ph.D.
Best,
Jim
Shahar Peer, the former to 20 women’s tennis player from Israel, was recently denied a visa to play in this week’s Dubai tournament. She had been protested in New Zealand earlier this year when the war on Gaza was raging. She has demonstrated a willingness to play in Muslim countries, and made history last year as the first Israeli to play in Qatar. She also has successfully teamed up with Muslim player Sania Mirza to win doubles titles in the past. I like her as a person and player and have trouble adding my voice to the boycott, even though I feel I must, and I will.
The Women’s Tennis Association is considering, among many possible sanctions, canceling the Dubai tournament altogether. The sanctions could get worse next week when the men play in Dubai; doubles specialist Andy Ram plans on playing. Today, Jim Litke, an AP Sports Columnist, wrote an opinion piece criticizing the entire history of boycotts against Israeli athletes, a piece in which he also tries to dispel the parallel between Israel and South Africa. Here is a snippet:
Every time a team or athlete from a neighboring Middle East state refuses to meet their Israeli counterparts on a playing field, the people who sanction the event—insert the name of just about any international sporting federation here — pretend to be shocked.
Then they promise the next time it happens, they’ll bite the hand that feeds them.
Then they do what they always do: take the money and kick the Israelis down the road. The end game, apparently, turns on whether they run out of real estate or courage first.
Litke’s article angered me to no end with its biases and flagrant politics (just as it claims there should be no politics in sports), so I wrote him about it and encourage you to do the same. Here is my letter:
Dear Mr. Litke,
I don’t fully agree with the ban on Peer either. I thought her playing in Qatar last year was a great move. Additionally, she has doubled up with Muslim player Sania Mirza and won titles. That is my personal opinion. I felt, however, that your article was biased on a few points, and was wrong about the legitimacy of the boycott. I am not against a total boycott of Israel, I just believe in Peer’s case she is interested in rapprochement with the Muslim world and should be encouraged. As you might notice, she herself does not like to make political comments and understands the touchiness of sports mixed with politics.
You say the situation between South Africa and Palestine are not the same. Well, in Palestine, it is in many ways worse in terms of human rights abuses and that has been confirmed by no less than Desmond Tutu. Also, the boycott movement in the South African case involved sports as well if I remember correctly.
How can you make the judgment that there is no so-called unanimity about the Israel boycott? Have you gathered a focus group involving the entire world’s population? It’s only in America that there is favoritism for Israel, in the rest of the world including Europe people already understand that Palestinians are the oppressed, dispossessed party and are worthy of solidarity. You can see this when Israeli teams go play in Europe and are booed or confronted with protest.
Sports and politics have never been separate, as the Olympic games show. Was it right for American athletes to boycott the Games played in the Soviet Union?
Your language about the “war against Islamic militants” is hopelessly biased. Do you know how many so-called “militants” died in comparison with civilians? Hardly any hospitals found militants among the dead or injured. What is the definition of a militant? Is it just any male between the ages of 18-40? No one cares to check or verify. Reading your article, one does not know that around 1 400 Palestinians died for only 14 Israelis. Where is your sense of proportionality, or even justice?
Do you ever ask what the situation is in reverse? Do Palestinian athletes have the right to travel at will, like Shahar Peer has been doing for her entire professional life, except for this case? The situation for Palestinian athletes is much worse, but of course that doesn’t get reported on.
Successful boycotts target all aspects of society, including such soft targets as culture and sports.
Thanks for listening,
M
One forgets when reading about this supposed scandal in Dubai that Palestinian athletes have had their rights trampled and even their lives extinguished. Read this article for an analysis of how Israel’s killing of athletes violates the Olympic Charter. And here is a photo of Gazan athlete Nader Masri. What do you think his chances are of participating in meets right about now?
Related posts:
- It is Just to Boycott Shahar Peer
- Israel begins its invasion of Gaza (UPDATED)
- Life in Dubai
- Snoop Cancels Show in Israel
- Fox News’ Wisdom on “Apple Dubai”
European Jews came to Palestine, uprooted the native inhabitants then declared a state for themselves.
Arayus, do you even pay attention to your own arguments? You just claimed that modern Palestinians are NOT the native inhabitants of Palestine, right before you claimed they WERE the native inhabitants of Palestine. Giant WTF!? for you on that one. Not wasting any more time on somebody who can’t even decide which historical reality he wants to sign off on.
Posted by programmer craig | February 19, 2009, 12:12 amYou are so easy. I love the smell of defensive angry PC in the morning.
I like racist ignorant asses like you seeing a poor white naive white convert with evident flaws, and I like the violent “Muslims” seeing me, an appeaser who knows no Arabic nor fiqh nor has she memorized more Quran than them with better tajweed. I see every insult you can’t stand not to make, I see every comment that gets erased on YouTube by so called Salafis because something I said hit a little too close to home. I like it that way.
In me a formidable opponent you do not see. I like it that way.
Keep it coming. Bitch.
Another one bites the dust.
salams all
Posted by American Muslim Girl | February 19, 2009, 1:36 amPC how long must a group be in a region to become the “native population” 500 years? 600 years? 1400?
When do people lose their claim? after 50 years? after 2000?
Posted by enonymoose | February 19, 2009, 6:03 amIn the case of the Jews, never. No religious person can question the legitimacy of Jewish inheritance and ownership of the Land, and they don’t.
The best they can do is claim the Jews aren’t really Jews.
P.S. Dubai folded and gave Ram the visa to play in the men’s tennis tournament.
Posted by Anonymous | February 19, 2009, 9:35 amEnonymoose,
PC how long must a group be in a region to become the “native population” 500 years? 600 years? 1400?
Dunno. Are the English “native” in England? They’ve been there 1600 years. Or should they be considered “natives” of Denmark and Northern Germany? If the latter, do they have a right to return? And if the former, wouldn’t the Britons who were driven out by the invading Anglo-Saxons object?
It’s not so easy, is it? One thing I do know is that it isn’t rational for the same person to be making BOTH claims, at the same time, depending on which argument he is putting forward.
When do people lose their claim? after 50 years? after 2000?
Again, it’s not that easy. There aren’t any laws on such matters. Could the ethnically English take back their ancestral homelands Scandinavia and Germany by force? Undoubtedly. Would it be recognized as legal, if they did so?
It’s a very complicated issue. There isn’t any region in this world that hasn’t been the subject of ethnic cleansing at some point in the past. Should Armenians, Greeks and Kurds be allowed to reclaim Turkey? What will happen to the Turks? Back to Central Asia with them, then?
Posted by programmer craig | February 19, 2009, 2:31 pmPC, go read what I wrote, and don’t put words in my mouth when you clearly don’t know what you are talking about.
You know what the modern conflict is about. Don’t try to duck the issue. The issue is simple, people were living in their homes and tilling the land. Another group of people from Europe came and kicked them out and declared their own state at the expense of this group of people who had been living there for hundreds of years (most of whom are genetically related to many of the previous people had inhabited the land).
Whether or not Palestinians are direct descendants of the Canaanites is irrelevant (Palestinians like most people on the planet are a mixture of a bunch of stuff). Just like whether or not Jews are the direct descendants of the Hebrews is irrelevant.
If someone came to my house and kicked me out, you better know I’d fight back as hard as I could to get my house back (any self respecting American would). The conflict is that simple, and for you to try to twist it is disgusting.
Posted by Arayus | February 19, 2009, 3:52 pmAtayus, how come its always everyone else who doesn’t know what they are talking about?
You know what the modern conflict is about. Don’t try to duck the issue. The issue is simple…
It’s ALAYWS simple. Unless Palestinians are involved. The only one ducking the issue is you. The Palestinians are not the only people who have been driven off their land, even in recent times. How come the Palestinians are the only ones that expect the rest of the world to get it back for them?
Whether or not Palestinians are direct descendants of the Canaanites is irrelevant (Palestinians like most people on the planet are a mixture of a bunch of stuff). Just like whether or not Jews are the direct descendants of the Hebrews is irrelevant.
If it is “irrelevant” then why do you keep claiming the Jews came from Europe, and the Palestinians are native?
Another group of people from Europe came and kicked them out…
See? Like that there…
Hypocrisy.
If someone came to my house and kicked me out, you better know I’d fight back as hard as I could to get my house back (any self respecting American would).
Bullshit. You’d move someplace else and start over. So would I.
Posted by programmer craig | February 19, 2009, 5:19 pm“How come the Palestinians are the only ones that expect the rest of the world to get it back for them?”
No one expects the rest of the world to help them out. All I’m asking is for my tax dollars to stop funding Israeli war crimes committed against the Palestinian people. I don’t much like the fact that my tax dollars and my reputation as an American is on the line for an apartheid state like Israel that was founded on ethnic cleansing.
Furthermore Israel provides nothing to us as Americans in regard to foreign policy other than making it difficult for Americans to achieve their foreign policy goals in the region.
“If it is “irrelevant” then why do you keep claiming the Jews came from Europe, and the Palestinians are native?”
It is documented that the people who identify as Palestinians today have been in Palestine for hundreds of years. Whether or not they are Caananites is irrelevant. Don’t try to twist things, your not good at it.
“Bullshit. You’d move someplace else and start over. So would I.”
No, I wouldn’t. Like most Americans I would put up a good fight, actually like most people in the world, I would put up a good fight.
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