Israel and a sports boycott: Antisemitic? Anti-Zionist?

Abstract

The paper identifies and summarises the debates that surround the place of Israel in international sport and assesses how that place is increasingly being contested. The long-standing conflict between Israel and Palestine has begun to manifest in the world of sport with the paper sketching the debates of those calling for, and those opposed to, sport sanctions/boycott of Israel until the 'Palestinian Question' is resolved. Five related tasks are addressed: first, to summarise the call for sanctions/boycott emanating from the Boycott, Disinvestment and Sanctions movement. Second, to explore how this call is establishing itself in the world of sport. The responses of those opposed to any form of sanction/boycott are then considered. The confusion that surrounds the term antisemitism is addressed and the relationship between (anti-) Zionism and antisemitism unpacked. The discussion concludes with an assessment of the claim made by the Israeli state, and its supporters, that any action against the country's participation in international sport would be an act of antisemitism. Offering a timely, integrated summary of the heated debates that surround the Israel/Palestine conflict, the paper contributes to a wider discussion on the relationship between sport and politics.

Sport and British Jewish identity

“…The Games, organised by the Maccabi World Union, are important in developing links between the Jewish Diaspora and the State of Israel, and in enhancing the Jewish consciousness of those attending (Kaplan, 2015). The Games have taken on greater import with the rise of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement and the country’s deteriorating image (Barghouti, 2011; Dart, 2017). As part of the Maccabi World Union, and the European Maccabi Confederation, MaccabiGB is the sports arm of the Maccabi Jewish Community Charity that works across the British Jewish community to offer a range of sport, health and wellbeing activities.…”

Showing Israel the red card. Activists engaged in pro-Palestinian sport-related campaigns

“…The attempts to contribute towards peacebuilding in the region through sport-based coexistence projects focus on different aspects of the problem, with more research needed on the extent to which they (are able to) address the root causes of the conflict, bearing in mind Dart's (2015Dart's ( , 2016 suggestion that when it comes to national security, sport features in a very minor capacity. However, the activists interviewed here shared the goal of using sport to raise awareness and bring about pressure on the Israeli state to address its behaviour towards the Palestinians.…”

“…The Israeli state is also turning to legal methods ('from warfare to lawfare' and 'blacklisting') to discredit individuals/organisations who document the human rights abuses of Palestinians and/or propose boycott, disinvestment or sanctions of the Israeli state and/or its settlements (Schulte 2016). (Dart 2015). Securing backing from a number of high profile footballers, many signees later withdrew their support; this situation seems to support Roger Walters (Pink Floyd) who claimed many individuals are reluctant to publically criticise Israeli policy for fear of being labelled antisemitic (Gallagher 2016).…”

Trump’s Decision to Recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital: Domestic Motivations and Regional Circumstances

“…Some Gulf countries started openly allowing Israeli planes in their airspace, 60 while others have allowed the participation of Israeli sports and cultural teams in international forums held on their soil. 61 Arab and Muslim countries, especially in the Middle East, have been fragmented and divided. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which has been the strongest Arab bloc, economically and politically, has been largely fragmented following the Gulf diplomatic crisis of 2017.…”