Israeli chess Grandmaster asked to withdraw from chess tournament.
The Global Peace and Justice group wrote to Israeli Chess Grandmaster Victor Mikhalevski asking him to withdraw from the international Queenstown Chess Classic due to start in Queenstown today.
In a Letter address to Victor Mikhalevski said, The Gaza outrage is just the latest chapter in a 60-year history of dispossession and oppression of Palestinians since they were driven from their homes and off their land by Zionist terror squads during Israel’s formation. Virtually overnight Palestinians changed from indigenous people to refugees.
"With this background we are asking you to withdraw from this international chess tournament being held here in New Zealand.Although competitors compete ostensibly as individuals in tournaments such as this they are seen to also represent their country," the letter said
"This is not to say we hold you responsible for the appalling policies of the Israeli government but the very nature of boycotts means individuals such as yourself will inevitably be caught up because a boycott to be effective must be comprehensive. We hope you appreciate this point and are prepared to make the sacrifice and withdraw,"
According to John Minto of GPJ Auckland,Victor is the only Israeli in the tournament and the request to him to withdraw has been made as part of the international call for a comprehensive boycott of Israel because of its abusive treatment of Palestinians living under a vicious military occupation.
The latest manifestation of this Israeli policy is the massacre underway in Gaza.
"If Victor fails to withdraw of his own volition we have asked tournament chief organiser Paul Spiller for the organising committee to formally request him to withdraw", Minto said.
"We have told the organisers we appreciate this request is coming late in the day on the eve of the tournament but we were unaware of his participation till yesterday," He added.
In Gaza, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed during Israel's 19-day war in Gaza, Palestinian medical officials have said, as clashes continue throughout the Strip.
The Global Peace and Justice group wrote to Israeli Chess Grandmaster Victor Mikhalevski asking him to withdraw from the international Queenstown Chess Classic due to start in Queenstown today.
In a Letter address to Victor Mikhalevski said, The Gaza outrage is just the latest chapter in a 60-year history of dispossession and oppression of Palestinians since they were driven from their homes and off their land by Zionist terror squads during Israel’s formation. Virtually overnight Palestinians changed from indigenous people to refugees.
"With this background we are asking you to withdraw from this international chess tournament being held here in New Zealand.Although competitors compete ostensibly as individuals in tournaments such as this they are seen to also represent their country," the letter said
"This is not to say we hold you responsible for the appalling policies of the Israeli government but the very nature of boycotts means individuals such as yourself will inevitably be caught up because a boycott to be effective must be comprehensive. We hope you appreciate this point and are prepared to make the sacrifice and withdraw,"
According to John Minto of GPJ Auckland,Victor is the only Israeli in the tournament and the request to him to withdraw has been made as part of the international call for a comprehensive boycott of Israel because of its abusive treatment of Palestinians living under a vicious military occupation.
The latest manifestation of this Israeli policy is the massacre underway in Gaza.
"If Victor fails to withdraw of his own volition we have asked tournament chief organiser Paul Spiller for the organising committee to formally request him to withdraw", Minto said.
"We have told the organisers we appreciate this request is coming late in the day on the eve of the tournament but we were unaware of his participation till yesterday," He added.
In Gaza, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed during Israel's 19-day war in Gaza, Palestinian medical officials have said, as clashes continue throughout the Strip.
Civilians make up about 40 per cent of casualties with children accounting for a third of the dead, aid agencies and Palestinian medics said.
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