Sweden-Israel Davis Cup to go ahead without fans

[oberliner]

STOCKHOLM (AP) — A Davis Cup tennis match between Sweden and Israel will go ahead without spectators after an attempt to move the venue to Stockholm fell through, organizers said Tuesday.

They cited security concerns for the closed-door policy in the city of Malmo because anti-Israeli demonstrations are expected during the best-of-five series on March 6-8. But the volley of words between the two Swedish cities, which comes after the United Arab Emirates stopped an Israeli player attending a tennis tournament in Dubai, has an unmistakable political dimension.

Malmo, Sweden's third largest city, has a left-leaning local government and a large Muslim minority. Its leaders have strongly criticized Israel over the Gaza invasion, and some have called for the Davis Cup match to be dropped altogether.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5icYz9_NCcih71yYJ6QAX_pQ4ZZTwD96I5E000

[Mosby]

1. Strange

From the article:

Malmo Mayor Ilmar Reepalu insisted the decision to bar spectators was solely based on security concerns. He noted that pro-Palestinian groups had disrupted a recent pro-Israel demonstration by throwing bottles, eggs and fireworks.

"It shows the tensions that exist after the conflict in Gaza," Reepalu, of the left-leaning Social Democrats, told The Associated Press by telephone.


No, it shows that the Mayor and the police in this town are incapable or unwilling to provide adequate security.