PRESS RELEASE

Norfolk Palestine Group Condemns World Bowls Tour Reversal

The World Bowls Tour (WBT) has ignited outrage among members of the Norfolk Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) by reversing its ban on three Israeli bowlers set to compete at Potters Resort, Hopton-on-Sea, this January. The group had unequivocally called on the WBT to uphold the 1977 Gleneagles Agreement, a landmark commitment by the UK to exclude apartheid regimes from international sporting events. This reversal represents a blatant disregard for justice and emboldens Israel’s ongoing apartheid practices, as documented by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and leading human rights organisations.

By greenlighting the participation of Israeli players, the WBT and Potters Resorts have shown flagrant contempt for the principles of equality and justice. Their actions trivialise the Gleneagles Agreement, which once symbolised the UK’s opposition to apartheid, and demonstrate a callous indifference to the suffering of Palestinians.

Campaign groups, including Norfolk PSC, Show Israeli Genocide the Red Card, and Scottish Sport for Palestine, have united in condemnation of this decision. These organisations categorically reject baseless allegations of antisemitism, highlighting their strong alliances with Jewish individuals and groups who share their commitment to human rights. Such accusations, they argue, serve as cynical attempts to silence criticism of Israel’s systemic oppression and war crimes against Palestinians.

Local Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe’s unfounded claims of threats to the safety of the Israeli players have further fuelled anger. Campaigners have accused Mr Lowe, who profited over £100,000 from taxpayer-funded Covid contracts, of exploiting his platform to peddle misinformation and shield Israel’s crimes from scrutiny.

A Norfolk PSC spokesperson stated: “2024 will stand as a damning indictment of Western complicity in Israel’s atrocities. The British Government and media have attempted to sanitise the slaughter of over 18,000 Palestinian children, framing it as self-defence. This grotesque distortion of reality is a stain on our collective humanity. Any organisation that whitewashes genocide or invites former IDF soldiers to compete in British sports is complicit in these crimes.”

The group also denounced Israel’s allocation of $150 million to manipulate global public opinion. “No amount of propaganda can obscure the reality of apartheid and genocide in Gaza,” the spokesperson added. “The WBT’s decision aligns them with a regime of oppression and injustice, and the British public must hold them to account.”

Norfolk PSC and its partners have vowed to stage peaceful yet resolute demonstrations during the Potters Resort event, set to take place from 10th to 26th January 2025. They see this as a critical moment to expose the complicity of those who legitimise Israel’s actions and to stand firmly against the normalisation of apartheid.

They concluded: “The WBT’s betrayal will not go unnoticed. The British people are not for sale, and their values will not be tarnished by the cowardice of organisations that capitulate to oppression. Our fight for justice, humanity, and a free Palestine continues unabated.

Protest for Palestine – 5 January

NEW LOCATION!!
.
Join us for an Emergency Protest outside the BBC – who are not only covering the WBT championships in Norfolk, but whose disgraceful coverage of the initial decision to ban the Israeli players enabled the WBT’s cowardly U-turn, disregarding the Gleneagles Agreement as well as International Law.
.
Join us also in demanding the BBC instead focus on calling for the immediate release of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, who is being held hostage by the IDF.
.
📅 5th of January
⏰ 11am
📌 The Forum, Norwich

Everyone is invited to come for a hot beverage of choice (or cold if you’re so inclined) afterwards at a location to be decided!

See you there!

❌ SHOW ISRAELI GENOCIDE THE RED CARD ❌ – SUCCESS!!! 🎉

It is with immense pride that Norfolk PSC is able to announce the success of a collaborative campaign with Show Genocide the Red Card and Scottish Sports for Palestine.

Thanks to the emails YOU sent, we successfully upheld the Gleneagles Agreement to get apartheid Israel thrown out of World Indoor Bowls Championships 2025! On 29th of December Potter’s Resort Hopton-on-Sea and World Bowls Tour announced they had WITHDRAWN their invitation to host Israeli players:

‘Therefore, as a result of the intensity of the situation, the WBT Board, in consultation with our event partners and other relevant stakeholders, has made the difficult decision to withdraw the invitation for Israel to participate in the forthcoming World Indoor Championships. This decision affects Daniel Alomin in the World Singles, as well as Amnon Amar and Itai Rigbi in the World Open Pairs.’

– World Bowls Tour Statement

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who took the time to send an email to show the world that there can be no fair play for apartheid states in sport.

In peace and solidarity 🙏🏽 🕊✌🏽
the Norfolk PSC Team

❌ SHOW ISRAELI GENOCIDE THE RED CARD ❌

This January 10th to 26th, the World Bowls Tour (WBT) is inviting three Israeli competitors to take part in the World Indoor Bowls Championships in Hopton-on-Sea, Great Yarmouth.

As signatories of the Gleneagles Agreement, the UK is obligated to rescind its invitation to all Israeli players. Help us demand their immediate withdrawal from this competition! It has been done before and with your help we can do it again! ✊🏼🇵🇸

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has already found Israel to be an Apartheid State, and that international governments and organisations must take steps to end it.

We have written to those involved (without response) imploring them to uphold the Gleneagles agreement (1977) of which the UK is a signatory. The Gleneagles agreement states:

“Members are pledged to: combat the evil of apartheid by withholding any form of support for, and by taking every practical step to discourage contact or competition by their nationals with sporting organisations, teams or sportsmen from South Africa or from any other country where sports are organised on the basis of race, colour or ethnic origin…

You can help by signing our petition – it takes just 10 seconds.