Israel opts out of world archery meet
JAKARTA (JP): Israel, with which Indonesia has never had diplomatic ties, has chosen of its own volition not to participate in the 38th World Archery Championships here next week.
"They (Israel) are not prepared to accept the conditions imposed on them by the Indonesian government, specifically because they will not be allowed to march under the name of their own country and use their flag and national anthem if they win," Donald M. Lovo, vice president of the World Archery Body FITA confirmed with The Jakarta Post yesterday.
Lovo said he obtained the confirmation from a senior official of the Israeli Sports Federation who called him late Thursday night. "A media person from Israel also called me very early this morning confirming the federation's decision. The person said, 'I've just read in a local paper this morning that Israel would not send a team'," Lovo added.
President Soeharto is scheduled to officially open the Aug. 1 to Aug. 6 world archery meet. As of yesterday, more than 300 men's and women's athletes from 55 countries have confirmed their participation in the event.
The FITA top official also made it clear that Israel had previously expressed a wish to participate. "They have even returned completed application forms to the organizing committee," Lovo the Post.
Administratively speaking, Lovo said that Israel could not meet the deadline to return the forms. "But they cannot be blamed. There are extenuating circumstances," said Lovo.
Chairman of the organizing committee Oetojo Oesman told reporters yesterday that Indonesia, on the other hand, had offered to grant visas upon arrival to members of the Israeli team provided that they sign a written statement swearing to comply with the government's restrictions.
Coordinating Minister of Political Affairs and Security Soesilo Soedarman made it clear on Thursday that the government heeded the strong reactions against a possible participation of Israel in the sport event. Indonesia is the world's most populous Moslem country.
Unlike Israel, however, Portugal, which broke-off diplomatic ties with Indonesia following the integration of East Timor into Indonesia in 1976, will be treated just like the other countries with which Indonesia has diplomatic ties.
"Just like the rest of the participating countries, Portugal can use its name, flag and national anthem during the meet," Oetojo said.
Portugal is treated differently because "we used to have diplomatic ties with it," Oetojo added.
Lesson
Meanwhile, the Israeli Sports Federation and the World Jewish Congress condemned Jakarta's move as "bizarre racism and anti- Semitism", AFP reported yesterday.
Executive director of the New York-based WJC Elan Steinberg was quoted by Reuters as saying: "the championship has taken on the smell of the 1936 Berlin Olympics in which Hitler's Germany barred Jews from participating."
Lovo, learning of Indonesia's objection to accept the Israel delegation, said that such an incidence should teach FITA members a lesson.
"In the future, any countries which bid for hosting the world championships must give a written statement from their respective governments stating that restrictions, such as imposed by the Indonesian government, will not be given," Lovo said.
"Thus far, I'm not aware whether there are any protests officially filed by our member countries. But in the FITA congress on Aug. 7 to Aug. 8 here, this issue will absolutely be on the floor. It's the major issue of this archery meet," he added.
Lovo explained that the congress can make recommendations to FITA's board of justice, an extremely independent body chaired by FITA's previous presidents. "They have the responsibility to analyze the problems and take actions as required."
FITA bars discrimination on the grounds of race, religion or politics.
Despite its absence in the Jakarta meet, Lovo said Israel still has a very good chance to qualify for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia.
Lovo said there would be six places available at the European and Mediterranean archery qualifying tournament where Israel can take part. "They (Israel) have also asked to be considered for wild card entry and I know one of their male archers who can be very well considered for the wild card position," Lovo added.
The Atlanta Olympics offer 128 places to both men's and women's archers, 80 of whom will be shortlisted from the 38th world championships here.
The remaining Olympic berths include 42 tickets up for grabs in the continental qualifying tournaments and six wild cards. (arf)