Banning Israel from tennis tournaments should not even be a line call

Amid protests and calls for boycotts, Israeli athletes like Lina Glushko continue to face scrutiny over their ties to Israel's military and the global response to Israel's war on Gaza.

At the ASB Classic tennis tournament this week, Israeli player Lina Glushko took to the court alongside audible chants of ‘free Palestine’ and ‘blood on your hands’ from a group protesting outside. The chants briefly interrupted play. Protesters challenged Glushko’s participation in the tournament given that she is a reservist solider in an army currently committing genocide in Gaza.

“Apartheid is a crime against humanity wherever it is practiced. Just as we protested apartheid South African players at sports tournaments in the past we are protesting an Israel player today” - Palestine Solidarity Network of Aotearoa

In 2009, another Israeli player, Shahar Pe’er faced similar protests outside the ASB Tennis Centre in Auckland. If anything, the case for excluding Israeli athletes from tennis tournaments like the ASB Classic is stronger now than in 2009. Especially given both Glushko and Pe’er have voiced outright support for the actions of their government.

In comments to the media Pe’er claimed “I don’t have anything to do with politics. I am just a tennis player who wants to enjoy the tour like other players”.

Yet when she was drafted into the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) in 2005 she described the event as “more exciting than playing Maria Sharapova”, posed with a tank and a draft notice, seemingly welcoming the opportunity to encourage other other young Israelis to join up.

Pe’er also promoted her military service on her own website (www.shaharpeer.co.il - now offline)

"Israeli citizens have mandatory army service at the age of 18. Shahar and her family strongly believe in the importance of contributing and giving back to the country. Shahar realized the importance of carrying out this service and felt it was her duty as an Israeli citizen. In Israel, there is a special program for outstanding athletes where the army helps the athlete continue their career while still assigning them a job in the army. As a member of this program, Shahar, like every other Israeli woman, had a required two-year period in the army. She did basic training for three weeks, then got an office job in a small unit. Starting in October 2005, every time she was home in Israel, Shahar attended her job in the army. She completed her army service in October 2007."

Was Glushko a member of a similar programme? It would be interesting to know if the IDF also used the profile of Glushko as a ‘sports star’ as part of their propaganda.