Anti-Israel Protest Turns Violent

Israel's slaughter of civilians in Gaza has built so much resentment in the world that the actions even affect their own national athletes.

Anti-Israel protesters have clashed with police outside a Davis cup match played in Malmo in southern Sweden.

The game between Sweden and Israel is being played without an audience because the police could not guarantee the security of the players.

About 100 masked protesters tried to storm the arena in Malmo on Saturday afternoon, throwing rocks and firecrackers at the police who had put up barricades outside the stadium.

Around 100 people were apprehended and at least six were formally arrested, according to Ewa Westford, a police spokeswoman.

About 7,000 people gathered at a square in the centre of the city for a peaceful protest, with speakers condemning Israel's offensive in Gaza and urging support for the Palestinians.

As they marched towards the arena, they were joined by the masked demonstrators who attacked police with eggs, rocks and firecrackers.

About 1,000 police were deployed in Malmo to keep the protesters from entering the arena. Special riot vehicles had been brought in from Denmark.

Henrik Kallen from the Swedish Tennis Federation spoke to Al Jazeera from inside the arena. He said the match had not been disturbed.

I can't comment on if it was right or wrong to from a security stand [to ban fans from the match] but what is unfortunate is that some local politicians have used it for their own agenda, mixing sports and politics and making national politics out of something they should not get into."

Since Israel's three-week war on Gaza ending in January, activists and politicians have called for the game to be stopped.

The municipality of Malmo said its decision that the match be played in an empty arena was taken due to security concerns, without any political motives.

But Ilmar Reepalu, the mayor of Malmo, told the newspaper Sydsvenska Dagbladet after the war on Gaza that his personal opinion was that the game should not be played at all.

The three-game tie started on Friday with about 300 journalists, sponsors and special guests present in the 4,000-capacity hall.

"It didn't feel like a Davis Cup match, it felt like a challenger match," said Harel Levy, one of the Israeli players.

"It's sad, I think it has affected Sweden more than Israel. Hopefully it will never happen again."

Malmo, which is home to a large number of immigrants, many of them from the Middle East, has been heavily criticised by the International Tennis Federation and Israeli players for its decision to close the tie to the public.

It is the second time that a Davis Cup tie has been held without spectators. The first was in 1975, also in Sweden, when the Swede Bjorn Borg and his team beat Chile, which was ruled at the time by dictator Augusto Pinochet.

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Vic March 9, 2009 3:32 pm (Pacific time)

Mike...sometimes a little "fire" is necessary to bring about positive change. Id be proud to "feed that fire".

mike March 9, 2009 7:30 am (Pacific time)

I can't believe a media with the reputation of the Salem News, can pander to the other knee jerk liberal, anti-peace, anti-Sematic rags. Shame on you people!!! Sure Israel invades countries that attack it and murder their civilians. Any country that doesn't protect it's citizens doesn't deserve their support. At least Israel fights back against armed murderers; not just launching rockets indiscriminately into a known civilian population. The Arabs don't have the courage or support to attack Israel Defense Force, so they take the cowardly easy targets like unarmed civilians. Where is the public outcry when rockets rain down on Israel's citizens? Am I the ONLY one who's seen for years, Israel, giving back land, giving in concessions, being the ONLY ones offering peace for the simple right to exist? Even the rest of the Arab world gets fed up with the Palastinians constant, never ending retoric. They've become an embarrassment and burden to the rest of the Arab world. And they don't care, as long as cowards like "Vic" whine and moan about the plight of the poor Palastinians. Sure, civilians died in Gaza when Isral went in. It's not like anyone should be surprised. What did the PLO think was going to happen? Has anyone ever considered the possiblility that the murderers from Hamas are holding their OWN people hostage, to hide behind their OWN civilians, mosques, schools and hospitals? Maybe the Palastinians people are tired and sick of being caught in the cross fire and would like some peace too. But to complain or refuse to support the murderers among them risks being killed by their own. The terrorists don't care if every one of their own people are sacrificed, as long as they get to kill one more Jew. That's pathetic and the ultimate cowardice. Israel shows more restraint and "turn the other cheek" than they should. If I had a neighbor who was bigger, stronger, with better weapons and the resolve to use them, the last time I would want to do was to keep pissing him off, knowing I was going to get not just ME but my whole FAMILY'S butt kicked. Where's the courage and honor in that? These people are cowards, and unfortunatly, the only way to deal with them is through a gunsight. This is their choice. And idiots like Vic just feed the fire...............

Vic March 9, 2009 7:05 am (Pacific time)

Alan, you are out of touch with reality if you think only Muslims and Arabs are against genocide and wholesale civilian slaughter. You evidently have no problem with that. Funny how whenever there is a story re Israel, posters we have never seen before start popping up spewing their racist hate.

Alan March 9, 2009 12:19 am (Pacific time)

The Swedish are so stupid letting the Muslims and Arabs dictate their country. Face it - you are doomed. Your country will become Muslims at the end and then you will see what a mistake you did giving those Muslims to get in to your country. Allah Hu Akbar :o)

Vic March 8, 2009 8:30 pm (Pacific time)

Israel, Britain and especially the US should not be allowed to carry on business as usual. We should always be reminded wherever we go about our arrogance, racism and warmongering. All three countries look down their noses at the rest of the world...the rest of the world should boycott, shun and exclude us.

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Anti-Israel Protest Turns Violent

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