Pro-'Palestinians' protest crowdless volleyball match with Israeli women in Turkey
Police fought back dozens of pro-'Palestinian' protesters outside a closed volleyball match between Israeli women and Serb women in Turkey on Saturday (Hat Tip: Joshua I). "Don't be dogs of Zionism. God will hold you to account," some demonstrators snarled at police in helmets who pushed them back with shields of reinforced plastic. "Esteemed friends," appealed a police commander with a loudspeaker. "Please don't cause trouble."So much for sports being an escape from war.
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The government imposed heavy security on the game, a 0-3 loss for Israel to Serbia in a European Volleyball League women's match, dispatching police to block roads around the venue. Israeli security officials in suits guarded the women, and the Israeli players rode in a bus with tinted windows to the indoor stadium, which was mostly empty save for trainers, staff and their relatives.
Only a few flags were visible in the stands, and they were Israeli. After a while, the supporters folded them neatly and tucked them away.
Police thwarted activists who sent email messages that urged supporters to attend the game in order to protest against Israel, advising them to arrive one by one, hiding Palestinian flags and banners, and then shouting slogans upon entering the hall. One message named the hotel housing the Israeli athletes, who were scheduled to play Turkey for third place on Sunday.
Instead, protesters gathered two blocks from the stadium, some bearing posters with the image of 19-year-old Furkan Doğan, the youngest of the activists killed in the raid by Israeli naval commandos on the Mavi Marmara, a Turkish ship.
"Why kill and come here to play?" said protester Hanif Sinan, a landscape architect.
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 8:13 PM
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