Cricket South Africa (CSA) have been accused of ‘plain antisemitism’ after stripping Jewish participant David Teeger of the under-19 captaincy forward of the upcoming World Cup. It was introduced final week that Teeger would not captain the aspect after making pro-Israel feedback at an award ceremony in October.
Teeger accepted an award at a Jewish group occasion and devoted it to ‘the state of Israel and each single soldier combating in order that we will reside and thrive within the diaspora’. He was then requested to step down by CSA earlier than he was finally faraway from the captaincy, with the physique citing security issues after concluding that Teeger was prone to be the main focus of protests.
The South African Jewish Board of Deputies hit out on the choice to strip Teeger of the captaincy, branding it a ‘shame’ for which ‘the one rationalization is apparent antisemitism’. Their views have since been echoed by the Jewish Leadership Council, who firmly condemned the transfer in a letter to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Wednesday.
The letter read: “Jewish people around the world have been alarmed to see a rising Jewish sports star singled out in this way due to his identity. Press reports also suggest that the decision came off the back of political pressure applied by the South African government.
“Yesterday, our colleagues on the SAJBD met with CSA who failed to offer any proof of safety threats or clarify why such threats would justify the singling out of a Jewish participant for demotion. SAJDB concluded after the assembly that Teeger’s elimination was ‘plain antisemitism’.
“At a time of rising antisemitism, not just here but globally, this sends a signal to Jewish athletes that they may be singled out and discriminated against by their peers. As the tournament is due to begin in a few days, I urge the ECB to speak out against the decision by CSA and stand with Jewish people around the world against antisemitism.”
The Palestinian Solidarity Alliance (PSA) have been amongst these to complain about Teeger’s feedback whereas different stakeholders in South African cricket demanded his elimination from the nationwide group, based on ESPN. It can be stated that the PSA have utilized for the correct to stage peaceable protests on the under-19 World Cup and count on no objections.
The authorities of South Africa have adopted a hardline stance in opposition to Israel‘s army motion in Gaza, which has seen hundreds of civilian deaths on either side of the battle. They just lately took Israel to the International Court of Justice on a cost of genocide, whereas pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli demonstrations have taken place throughout the nation in current months.
