Why World Bowls Tour reversed ban on Israeli competitors

Daniel Alonim will become the third Israeli to play at this year's World Indoor Bowls Championships when he faces Stewart Anderson on Monday.

Alonim will meet the defending champion in the opening round of the singles competition as BBC TV coverage of the event begins.

His compatriots Amnon Amar and Itai Rigbi played in the pairs event at Hopton-on-Sea, Norfolk earlier this month.

But that was only after a ban imposed on the three players was revoked.

What's the background?

Why were the players banned?

Tournament organiser the World Bowls Tour (WBT) announced on 31 December that invitations issued to the three Israeli players had been withdrawn.

It said there had been a "significant escalation in related political concerns" following the involvement of Israeli bowlers at the Scottish International Open in August.

"This decision was not taken lightly and has been made in the best interests of the event's success and integrity," a statement said.

Pro-Palestinian groups including the Norfolk Palestine Solidarity Campaign had urged supporters to sign a petition calling for the invitations to the World Indoor Bowls Championships to be rescinded.

In its campaign, the group accused Israel of committing apartheid against Palestinians and called for its athletes to be banned under the 1977 Gleneagles Agreement - originally signed to exclude South Africa.

Israel strongly denies accusations of apartheid.

What was the reaction?

MP Rupert Lowe, whose Great Yarmouth constituency includes Hopton-on-Sea, said he was "genuinely disgusted" and would "fight" the ban.

"Sport should be a unifier, and it should be above politics," he added on X.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews described the ban as "an overt act of discrimination against Israeli participants".

A government spokesperson told BBC Sport the decision was a matter for international sport federations and the national representatives to these federations but added it was "deeply disappointing".

The sport's governing body, World Bowls - which is separate to the WBT - stressed Israeli players were still welcome to play in its events.

What happened next?

Within hours of the initial decision being announced, the WBT released a second statement.

That said Alonim, Amar and Rigbi could compete after "significant additional security measures" had been put in place.

The WBT acknowledged it had been "a difficult time for all involved" and was pleased to reach an outcome that "includes players for all supporting countries".

Lowe said: "The World Bowls Tour have made the right decision."

WBT board member Jason Parkinson told BBC Sport the period had been "challenging" but added: "At the end of the day, it's a sporting event and everybody here is here to play sport."

What have the players said?

Rigbi and Amar were beaten 2-0 by Scots Mark Renwick and Kieran Ward on the opening day of the competition.

"Even though we lost, I think it is a victory for all of us," said Rigbi.

"It is a victory for sport, the values of the sport, the spirit of the sport.

"The World Bowls Tour gave us a warm welcome. We had a nice conversation with other players. It's a very sporting atmosphere and a very sporting event. What happened outside is beyond my understanding."

What has happened in Israel and Gaza?

The conflict between Israel and the Palestinian people is one of the longest-running and most violent disputes in the world. Its origins go back more than a century.

The consequences of the historic dispute are still being felt, and include the latest war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

On 7 October 2023, Hamas fighters launched an assault from Gaza, killing about 1,200 people in Israel and taking more than 250 hostages.

This triggered a massive Israeli military offensive in Gaza. More than 46,700 people have been killed, the majority of them women and children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

After 15 months of fighting between Israel and Hamas, on Sunday a ceasefire came into effect in Gaza, and thousands of Gazans began to return home.

What has happened in other sports?

Israel was initially banned from last year's Ice Hockey World Championships, but the decision was later reversed.

Across other sports, there has been no ban on Israeli athletes - or the country's national teams.

The Palestine Football Association had called for its Israeli counterpart to be suspended by Fifa, submitting an official proposal which the governing body is considering.