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news
Jerusalem, Dome of the Rock (picture credit, Berthold Werner).JPGActivists target Giro d’Italia over support for Israel
The Palestinian-led boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement has targeted the Giro d’Italia, accusing the race’s Israel start of being an attempt at “sport-washing”.
In November, more than 120 organisations issued an appeal to Giro organisers RCS Sport not to hold the start of the race in Israel because of what they see as the country’s “grave and escalating violations of international law and Palestinians’ human rights.”
BDS is now running a #ShameOnGiro campaign.
The relevant page on its website states: “Israel’s multi-million dollar bribe was enough to enlist Giro in its propaganda campaign. As a result, Giro is whitewashing, or sport-washing, Israel’s ongoing war crimes.”
The movement is asking people to “spoil the party and give Giro a reality check” and provides images and videos that can be shared via social media.
Speaking to the Associated Press in November, RCS race director Mauro Vegni said: “The reality is that we want it to be a sports event and stay away from any political discussion.
He added: “I hope that it is treated as a sports event. And I hope it’s treated as a sports event by the Palestinians also.”
Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.
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37 comments
simonmb - that was quite an interesting read!
Just a note in the old sport and politics dont mix argument. There's a big overlapping thing in the Venn diagram called Culture of which sport and politics do overlap considerably; and indeed is the point. You might be able to artificically put a spanner between sport and politics but when you add culture and, indeed, business, that argument is insipid. Cycling is culture and business is politics and culture is business and business is culture and sport is politics etc.
I don't prefess to know enough about Israel to add anything useful here but trying to redact comment on that argument is just blinkered non-logic.
Excellent idea to start the Giro in Israel.
This is a sport and politics are irrelevant.
Coming from Belfast, I see the good this type of brave decision brings.
Tel Aviv looks like a good holiday destination for the future.
Got briefly interesting at 80.5km from the line.
Have been watching the entire Israel stages here in France on Equipe - I've never seen anything so boring - compared with Italian or French landscapes, Israel on this Giro seems nothing but desert, Tech parks and golf courses. I suppose they were so scared of any hostile demonstrations that they've kept it out in areas that they can secure. I'd have said a tourism and public relations disaster.
“There are also Jews who live in Gaza and the West bank (controversially). This doesn't make them Palestinian Jews....”
and this is why Israel is in breach of a number of UN resolutions the settlers who have made there homes in Gaza and the West Bank consider it to be Israel and Israeli defences force supports them.
Because it is Israel.
Go and learn the difference between Chapter VI and Chapter VII resolutions, there's a good lad.
F**k me, the ignorance here is crippling...
https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/18/world/middleeast/tearfully-but-forcef...
you do realise that over 13 years old!
Ah, so there's an arbitrary time before which your point somehow stands? What is that time, do tell? And who decides it? You? Obviously. Or so you believe.
Of course, it's 'thirteen years old', because Israel left Gaza in 2005. They didn't leave it in 2015. Or 2012. Or even in 2010. They left it in 2005, and that's why the bloody article is from 2005.
As the old saying goes, if brains were explosives, you'd be unable to blow your head off.
Beats me how it was considered a good idea to continue with stages in Israel any could try where stone throwing youths are being shot dead by that country's army almost every day. Just what is unacceptable nowadays?
Sorry for duplicate, tablet playing up a bit
Beats me how it was considered a good idea to continue with stages in Israel any could try where stone throwing youths are being shot dead by that country's army almost every day. Just what is unacceptable nowadays?
Brilliant. A citizen of the country which enslaved a quarter of the population of the planet, which slaughtered any of the colonials who dared to protest, and who still denies its responsibility, dares to moan because Jews were led into the ovens whilst you and your parents and grandparents sat and cackled, decide they want their own country.
Priceless.
Where to start with this offensive shit. You need a slap.
“I hope that it is treated as a sports event."
If it was just going to be treated as a sporting event, it wouldn't be worth a fraction of the reported £10m RCS have pocketed to provide distraction cover for the hosts would it? Talk about trying to have your cake and eat it.
Not a fraction, never! Although according to this, the 2014 Grand Départ in Yorkshire cost about a half (paid to ASO):
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/report-yorkshire-tour-de-france-grand-de...
But no! No way was *that* a bribe, sports-washing, etc. etc. — those things really only apply to Israel. We do know who lives in Israel don't we? Ken Livingstone & pals certainly do.
Tourism Israel are doing some pretty clever integrated marketing with this. The sceneary and historical sites on the TV look both fascinating and stunning. As a result, my girlfriend has started researching a trip for later this year.
It's the biggest sporting event Israel have ever hosted and the crowds are fanatstic. The $12 million fee to host seems like an absolute bargain!
Do go to Israel if you get the chance. Nothing about what you see when you're there reminds of the troubles. Just get out there and experience the great people, food, music, weather and biblicle stories.
Nicely out of site and out of mind, eh. Just don't try going to the Gaza strip.
But .. why? Some dolt on this site thinks that Jews live there! I'm sure you'll be very safe! Take a tour in 'the West Bank', too. Those peace-loving 'Palestinians' (sic) will be glad to welcome you. Just make sure you're not Jewish (or British, or American, or female, or gay, or ..)
http://www.jewishpress.com/news/politics/two-machsom-watch-women-who-str...
Yeah, its been a real eye-opener to be honest - you kind of fall into the trap of thinking its all as portrayed in the bad news on TV. But the Giro and subsequent holiday research we've done makes it look like a really vibrant place, I love history and she loves beaches
Acre looked incredible on the Giro - a 4,000 year old city!
I won't be watching this year - a disgusting decision to start the race there.
https://cyclingtips.com/2018/05/opinion-why-its-impossible-to-separate-s...
He added: “I hope that it is treated as a sports event. And I hope it’s treated as a sports event by the Palestinians also.”
Thats kind of the issue in a nutshell, if a Palestinian gets anywhere near the giro there’ll more than like be shot dead by the Israeli defence force.
I do not approve or defend Israel's actions in Gaza, but FYI about a quarter of israeli citizens are palestinian arabs. You can be sure there were a fair number of palestinians in the crowd at the first Giro stage.
I think you will find they are Israeli arabs, Palestinians live in Gaza and the West bank.
I'm sorry, but that makes no sense. A significant proportion of Israel's population are russians, but they live, work and breed in Israel. Palestinian is a 'nation'. I lived and worked in Israel for 2 years, with a number of palestinians, who didn't live in Gaza or West Bank. There are also Jews who live in Gaza and the West bank (controversially). This doesn't make them Palestinian Jews....
One that has somehow contrived to live there for 'thousands of years' without leaving a single archeological or cultural trace. I suppose that is their most remarkable 'achievement'. Well, that and killing innocent people and making us all take our belts and boots off to go through security at airports.
But hey, don't take my word for it. Here are some questions about 'Palestine' for you.
When was it founded and by whom?
What were its borders?
What was its capital?
What were its major cities?
What constituted the basis of its economy?
What was its form of government?
Can you name at least one Palestinian leader before Arafat?
Was Palestine ever recognized by a country whose existence, at that time or now, leaves no room for interpretation?
What was the language of the country of Palestine ?
What was the prevalent religion of the country of Palestine ?
What was the name of its currency? Choose any date in history and tell what was the approximate exchange rate of the Palestinian monetary unit against the US dollar, German mark, GB pound, Japanese yen, or Chinese yuan on that date.
Haha! I'm delighted that those two years were a complete waste of time. There are no Jews in Gaza, because any Jew who wanders in there will be slaughtered by the murderous filth who live there.
Yes, 'controversially' because there is no such political entity as 'the West Bank'. The area to which you refer is Judea-Samaria which has been Jewish for five thousand years, except when Jordan illegally occupied it.
If 'Palestinians' (sic) were Jews, you wouldn't give a shit about them.
”murderous filth” lovely! Very balanced of you! Not sure it even worth engaging in a conversation with somebody who would write that.
remind me, when was Israel created ? 1948 wasn’t it ?
The modern state of Israel was reconstituted on ancient Jewish land in 1948.
And unlike probably anyone here, I was in Israel in 2005 when they abandoned the Gaza strip. Agricultural equipment, synagogues, homes. Israel begged them not to damage them, but to use them to build themselves a state.
What did they do? They burned them, looted them, defecated on the roof of synagogues. And they used what money they had (a lot of which comes from idiots like you in Europe) to dig tunnels to kidnap children and hold them to ransom, to buy rockets and missiles. They are vermin.
Ah, why do I bother? You are entirely ignorant - as indeed, am I. But like most people, you think that the ability to write your opinions on a website, is synonomous with those opinions having any validity.
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