Israel opts out of world archery meet

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)