Chess-news.ru reports that Israeli delegation was “warmly welcomed” by the organizers despite the fact that they were not allowed to display their flag and national symbols. Site plans an interview with a head of delegation Igor Bitensky in the next few days. That interview would hopefully clarify what that well treatment actually means.
Let’s try to put the youth tournament in perspective. In 1984 Dubai was asked at the last-minute to host the Olympiad after Iceland, Venezuela and Indonesia backed out. The USCF initially indicated it would not send a team because the Israelis would not be allowed visas. A compromise was proposed under which the USCF did send a team and got a promise that the issue of Israeli visa at future FIDE events would come up for a vote at the concurrent FIDE Congress. The USCF delegates approved this by a 2-to-1 vote at the annual convention that summer at Somerset, NJ.
FIDE agreed that in all future tournaments, the host country must provide visas to all players who qualify. This was tested at FIDE’s knockout world championship in Libya in 2004. The Libyans did agree to provide visas to the Israeli players but not to their seconds, wives, etc. The Israelis and their supporters boycotted the Tripoli tournament.
What this means is that the tournament just concluded is the only time that Israeli players have competed in a chess tournament in an Arab country. That’s significant.
Well that is good news, and my apologies to the government of UAE.
(For those who don’t click, the summary is that it was the Israeli team’s request to remove their own flags. Now, exactly what went on behind the scenes is still a matter of conjecture, but it appears that there was nothing horrible happening.)
I would hope that the USCF delegation immediately withdrew from the event as well. USCF cannot be a part of such blatant
racism. As a nation, and as a people. we must take action. There is one word for the actions of these bigots and that is
UNJUSTIFIED. Further, we as an affiliate of FIDE must make it perfectly clear we shall NEVER tolerate such actions against
Israel in the future. Without a question USCF and Israel must be linked as one people, one cause, and that is the cause of
freedom.
Why were these nations on the banned list, Sam?? It is because they were supported TERRORISM!!! And quite frankly, many nations
in that part of the world still do. Israel then, as well as now has consistently stood for peace.
From the media reports, it appears several significant precedents have been created. First, Israel did not withdraw from an international event when difficulties arose. Second, Israel and the UAE worked out a compromise on an issue. There have been few compromises in the Middle East on any issue, short of using military force to compel compliance. Third, the fact that an Israeli team was even allowed to appear in a high profile sports setting in an Arabic country is news that can have ripple effects on other issues. It appears that both the UAE and its allies and the state of Israel are satisfied. Who would have thought that that would ever be possible? Maybe it really will be the children who will lead us.
It will be interesting to read what occurs in FIDE in the aftermath of this tournament. FIDE is trying to show the IOC that it can be responsible for running Olympic style events and wishes to be on the list of events in either the Winter or Summer Games. Defusing potential boycotts and creating compromises in international sports in spite of the nationalistic tendencies of the participants could be an example of a maturing organization. As long as they don’t start talking about UFOs.
I would say that such “compromises” are agreements that Israel, long term, cannot work with. It is better to withdraw than to
accept such conditions. To have to sacrifice one’s basic identity in the interest of safety is simply too high a price to pay.
One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter. I can sort of understand why Iran and Libya were not allowed to send players to the 1999 FIDE World Championship in Las Vegas, but I do not understand why the player from Syria was excluded too. Are we allowed to decide which countries are our friends and which countries are our enemies and therefore are terrorists and representatives of those countries are not allowed to contest the World Chess Championship?
A funny aside to this is the US Delegation was supposed to Walk Out of the 1986 Olympiad in Dubai if a resolution was not passed condemning the UAE for not giving admission to the players from Israel. However, when the resolution was not passed or even presented and the time came when the US was supposed to walk out, the USA team was in first place in the Olympiad having just defeated the Soviet Union with Seirawan having defeated Kasparov. So, the US was supposed to give up its historic chance to win the Olympiad ahead of the USSR. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed and the USA delegation did not walk out.
Joel Benjamin boycotted the 1986 Olympiad in Dubai on the ground that Israel was not allowed to play. That is how Dlugy got on the team as second alternate. Dlugy had a good result and was one of the reasons the USA team almost won the Olympiad.
I don’t understand the joint statement by the Israeli federation and FIDE. I take it that either a credible security threat was perceived, or not. If not, then there is no reason for the action taken by the UAE officials. But if a credible threat was indeed perceived, then how does it really protect the Israeli players to put the same exact names under the FIDE banner? Anyone with an internet connection can see the names and which country they played for in previous events. People are inclined to back off when you tell them something is being done for security reasons, but this move seems to add almost zero security, particularly after the story broke on various websites and other media.
