DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - ATP 500 Barclay's Dubai Tennis Championships 2/23-3/1/2009

**b7RKli4l** · 02-19-2009, 01:13 AM

Israel's Andy Ram will be granted a visa to play in next week's Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships, a spokesman for U.S. congressman Anthony Weiner said today.

The United Arab Emirates denied Israel's Shahar Peer a visa to play in the women's Dubai tournament this week. Congressman Weiner, who represents New York, had scheduled a press conference today to press the ATP to cancel its event if Ram was denied a visa. But the UAE's ambassador to Washington, Yousef Al Otaiba, assured Weiner that Ram will be issued a visa to play next week, according to a Reuters report.

"Ms. Shahar Peer is a victim of politics over sportsmanship," Weiner said in a statement.

The UAE does not have diplomatic ties with Israel and routinely denies visas to Israelis. Last February, Peer became the first Israeli to play a Gulf Arab region event when she played the Qatar Open and said then she received a "warm welcome" from the tournament. However, the UAE denied the Israeli doubles team of Jonathan Erlich and Ram, the 2008 Australian Open doubles champions, entry to play Dubai last year citing security concerns.
http://www.tennisweek.com/news/fulls...Newsid=6627411

02-19-2009, 01:13 AM	#2
b7RKli4l Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 487 Senior Member	Israel's Andy Ram will be granted a visa to play in next week's Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships, a spokesman for U.S. congressman Anthony Weiner said today. The United Arab Emirates denied Israel's Shahar Peer a visa to play in the women's Dubai tournament this week. Congressman Weiner, who represents New York, had scheduled a press conference today to press the ATP to cancel its event if Ram was denied a visa. But the UAE's ambassador to Washington, Yousef Al Otaiba, assured Weiner that Ram will be issued a visa to play next week, according to a Reuters report. "Ms. Shahar Peer is a victim of politics over sportsmanship," Weiner said in a statement. The UAE does not have diplomatic ties with Israel and routinely denies visas to Israelis. Last February, Peer became the first Israeli to play a Gulf Arab region event when she played the Qatar Open and said then she received a "warm welcome" from the tournament. However, the UAE denied the Israeli doubles team of Jonathan Erlich and Ram, the 2008 Australian Open doubles champions, entry to play Dubai last year citing security concerns. http://www.tennisweek.com/news/fulls...Newsid=6627411
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