Israeli tennis association lodges complaint against Jabeur as Tunisia responds
Ons Jabeur is the subject of a complaint. The Israeli tennis association has taken the matter to the ITF, seeking sanctions against the Tunisian.
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The Israeli tennis association has lodged a formal complaint with the Women's Tennis Association against Tunisian tennis star Ons Jabeur. On 11 October, the Tunisian had publicly voiced her support for the Palestinian cause in an Instagram story. In it, she expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people and called for peace. " What Palestinians have been going through for 75 years is indescribable. What innocent civilians are going through is indescribable, whatever their religion and whatever their origins... Violence will never lead to peace... We all want to achieve peace. Peace is all we need and all we deserve. Stop the violence. Freedom for Palestine," was among the things that could be read in the post.
Since then, the Israeli tennis association has been campaigning for Africa's best female player to be sanctioned. The ITA has accused Jabeur of incitement and of "supporting a terrorist organisation". In response to what it sees as a witch-hunt against the player, Tunisia's ministry of youth and sport has announced "its unconditional backing and assistance for all national sportsmen and sportswomen who have supported the Palestinian cause, notably Ons Jabeur, who is the target of a smear campaign and of a complaint from the Israeli tennis federation to the ITF and the WTA seeking to have her sanctioned."
Olympic 400m freestyle champion Ahmed Hafnaoui has also sent a message to the Palestinians. "All Tunisians are behind you and are confident that your victory is near (…) Long live Palestine," posted the 1500m freestyle world champion.