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.

NEW LOCATION!!
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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.
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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.
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📅 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!