The Dean

Refusing a visa to an Israeli player who has qualified by right to participate in a sporting event may seem minor, but sports-related issues have a big impact (the sports boycott of South Africa undoubtedly brought a speedier end to apartheid).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/7891164.stm

bimcnorth

Not in the arab world I guess...as for the others they just write down Dubai anyway

Norm_uk

She's a tennis player, not a general in the IDF...

...Dubai's never been hurt one bit by Israel and likely benefits from all the gold that passes through Israel to Dubai anyway...bloody hypocrites.

N.

The Dean

Watch out for 'campaigns' calling for stars to boycott high profile sports events in Dubai (the golf thing, the tennis thing).

The publicity (always high in sports-related cases) will lead to people examining Dubai in other ways............ etc............... etc..............

lionheart

Sorry but I don't see anyone remembering this incident in 2-3 weeks time. It's not as if Israelis are automatically banned. There must have been some bureaucratic cock-up to have caused this. I believe several footballers of Israeli origin have come here in the past. Saudi no but UAE yes.

Sandboy

don't think so, Bolton left Tal Ben Haim behind when they came, then Man City ditched him sharpish as well

fortunately there's no fear of him leaving the UK while playing for Sunderland

Spugsy

Aye especially if he wants to go on holiday, he's not using our airport.

Blue Cat

lionheart

You are right. I must have been thinking about Jewish sportsmen holding non-Israeli passports. Of course the UAE won't allow Israelis into their country as there are no diplomatic relations between them. Mind you, it hasn't stopped an entrepreneur of Israeli origin investing here...the Atlantis Hotel springs to mind.

Blue Cat

and aren't the Al Fayed family originally Israeli?

lionheart

I thought they were Egyptian, but what do I know?

Blue Cat

they are now ....

Blue Cat

your right I checked

Sandboy

Dennis and Oz are Mackems

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azMxzCwH0oI

The Dean

Why do two countries have to have "diplomatic relations" before citizens of one can travel to the other?

Saudi hasn't had "diplomatic relations" with Japan for years but they still import Jap cars, travel both ways on business, etc.