Sports ice hockey
World association excludes Israel
Status: 12.01.2024 | Reading time: 2 minutes
Chief reporter Schwarzkopf on the hatred of Israel in the West Bank
It is extremely difficult for foreign journalists to report objectively from the West Bank. WELT chief reporter Steffen Schwarzkopf was able to look around Ramallah and saw a lot of hatred against Israel.
For the time being, Israel is not allowed to take part in tournaments organized by the IIHF World Ice Hockey Federation. The reasoning is surprising. Similar formulations were used when banning Russia and Belarus after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The world ice hockey association IIHF has excluded Israel from its World Cup tournaments for security reasons. The IIHF justified the decision with its duty of care to “protect all participants in IIHF competitions.” The decision applies until the safety and well-being of all participants, including Israeli participants, can be guaranteed. The statement did not mention whether any other country objected to playing against Israel. The Gaza war between Israel and the Islamist Hamas was also not mentioned.
The world body used similar language on security last year to justify its decision to exclude Russia and Belarus from competition following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Israel’s men’s team was scheduled to play against, among others, the United Arab Emirates in Group A of the lower division II in Serbia in April. The Israeli women’s national team would have played games against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Indonesia in March in Estonia at the Division III World Cup in Group B, among others.
Israel disgusted by South Africa’s actions
Meanwhile, a hearing on allegations of genocide against Israel began on Thursday at the International Court of Justice based in The Hague. South Africa’s lawyers called on the judges to immediately order Israel to stop attacks in the war against the militant Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli government has denied the allegations and said it was disgusted by South Africa’s actions. The lawsuit lacks legal basis, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said.
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ICJ President Joan E. Donoghue said South Africa argued that Israeli actions following the October 7 Hamas attacks were “genocidal in nature” and that Israel had failed to prevent genocide and was now committing genocide. South Africa also argues that Israel is violating other fundamental obligations under the UN Genocide Convention.
“The federal government is trying to influence the situation”
Economics Minister and Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck is in Israel for political talks. A visit to Ramallah in the West Bank is also planned. WELT chief reporter Steffen Schwarzkopf talks to Habeck about his impressions.
Source: WELT TV/Steffen Schwarzkopf
