Latest news with #AmosFrishman
Daily Tribune
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
Gaza War Prompts Jordan Boycott
TDT | Manama Jordan has withdrawn from its scheduled FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup match against Israel in a move widely seen as an expression of solidarity with the Palestinian people amid the ongoing war in Gaza. The match was set to take place on Sunday in Switzerland as part of Group C action. However, following discussions between the Jordanian team's technical and administrative staff, the Jordan Basketball Federation (JBF) formally requested to withdraw from the fixture. FIBA confirmed the withdrawal in an official statement, awarding a 20-0 victory to Israel by default in line with tournament rules. The JBF said its decision aligned with the federation's core values and principles. While the statement did not explicitly reference Gaza, Jordanian media outlets and regional commentators made the connection clear. The move quickly gained traction across social media, where users across the Arab world praised Jordan's stance as one of moral clarity. Many described the decision as 'a moral victory greater than any sporting result,' with messages reinforcing that 'the Palestinian cause is indivisible.' Israel's basketball federation expressed disappointment with the outcome. President Amos Frishman said he believes sport should be a bridge between cultures, not a political battleground. The game will not be rescheduled.
Kuwait Times
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Kuwait Times
Jordan boycotts U19 basketball match against Zionist entity
AMMAN/LAUSANNE: Jordan's U19 national basketball team refused to play against the Zionist entity in their World Cup group stage match in Switzerland on Sunday, following days of mounting public pressure and a wave of online activism demanding a boycott. In a statement, the Jordan Basketball Federation confirmed it had officially requested not to play the game, scheduled for June 29. The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) responded by canceling the match and awarding Zionist entity a 20-0 win. 'Based on the correspondence between the Jordanian Basketball Federation and FIBA... the federation requested not to play the match,' the statement read. 'Accordingly, FIBA decided not to hold the match and to award the result in favor of the other team.' The decision follows weeks of mobilization in Jordan. BDS Jordan, which had launched an online boycott campaign earlier this month under the hashtag 'Our team against normalization', praised the move, calling it a 'national and principled stance.' 'Salute to the Jordanian Basketball Federation and our U19 Falcons for their firm patriotic position that deserves our collective appreciation,' BDS Jordan wrote on Instagram. 'Long live your free spirit, heroes.' Across social media, young Jordanians flooded platforms like X and Instagram with support for the boycott, describing participation as 'whitewashing the crimes of the occupation.' One post by BDS Jordan read: 'Every point scored against the occupation's team is a point their media uses to sell the image of 'coexistence.' But there can be no coexistence with an occupier that bombs Gaza and demolishes homes over children's heads.' 'A political moment' The uproar began earlier this month when the tournament draw placed Jordan and the Zionist entity in the same group — alongside Switzerland and the Dominican Republic. Immediately, activists and citizens demanded that the Jordanian team withdraw from any direct match with the Zionist entity, citing long-standing public opposition to normalization. 'Playing this match would be a violation of boycott principles and an act of sports normalization with an entity committing horrific crimes,' a BDS post declared. 'This is not a regular match — it's a political moment.' Zionist entity officials responded with disappointment. 'On behalf of the Basketball Association, I regret the decision of the Jordanian team,' Basketball Association Chairman Amos Frishman told media. 'I believe that sports is a bridge between peoples and cultures and not a political arena.' The Zionist entity's U19 head coach Sharon Avrahami, speaking before the game, said: 'We see them at the hotel every day and we sit next to them. We don't do politics. We intend to play any opponent, anytime. If they don't show up, it's none of our business.' Jordan's withdrawal gives the entity two wins in Group C, following a dominant 102-77 victory over Switzerland. Jordan now sits at the bottom of the group, having lost their opening match to the Dominican Republic (79-69). Their final group game is set for Tuesday against Switzerland. Despite the automatic qualification of all 16 teams into the knockout rounds, group rankings will determine next-round matchups. Jordan's bottom ranking means they're likely to face tournament favorites, the United States, in the next round. This year marks the entity's first appearance at the U19 Basketball World Cup. For Jordan, it's a return after a 30-year absence. — Agencies
Roya News
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Roya News
'Israeli' media frames Jordan's basketball withdrawal as "political drama"
'Israeli' media commented on the decision by Jordan's basketball team to withdraw from their scheduled match against the Israeli Occupation's team at the FIBA U19 World Cup held in Switzerland, describing the move as a 'political drama." In the first official response, Amos Frishman, head of the Israeli Basketball Association, stated, "On behalf of the Basketball Association, I regret the decision of the Jordanian team. I had hoped the Jordanian team would take the court to show that sport can be a bridge between nations, not a political battlefield. I hope that in the future, there will be no doubt about holding such matches." Leading 'Israeli' media outlets, including Yedioth Ahronoth, claimed that "politics won over sports," noting that Jordan's withdrawal came after months of uncertainty, with the final decision being announced only hours before the scheduled match. According to 'Israeli' reports, the Jordanian team's decision followed widespread public pressure in Jordan against normalization with 'Israel'. The hashtag #منتخبنا_ضد_التطبيع ("Our team is against normalization") trended across social media platforms, with strong criticism of any match against the Israeli Occupation's team, especially in light of 'Israel's' ongoing genocide in Gaza. Israel Hayom described the withdrawal as part of a broader 'political drama' but noted that the decision ultimately benefited the 'Israeli' team, which was awarded a technical win, improving its chances of topping the group and securing an easier matchup in the Round of 16. Despite the withdrawal, the newspaper noted that the Jordanian team will not be disqualified from the tournament, taking advantage of a loophole in FIBA regulations that allows a team to miss up to two matches without elimination. Meanwhile, the Walla news site reported that the 'Israeli' team entered the tournament with minimal preparation due to ongoing security tensions and the war with Iran, having played no friendly matches in advance. It also revealed that Lithuania had been prepared as a backup opponent in case the 'Israeli' team withdrew. The tournament has been marked by additional tension, including a protest outside the Vaduz Arena. During 'Israel's' match against Switzerland, a spectator stormed the court waving a Palestinian flag, causing the game to be halted just nine seconds after tip-off.
Irish Examiner
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Jordan refuses to play Israel in basketball, forfeits World Cup tie
Jordan refused to play Israel at the FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup in Switzerland on Sunday in protest at the Gaza war, Jordanian media reported, and the international basketball federation said the game would be forfeited in favour of Israel. The official Jordan News Agency said the local basketball federation "sent an official request to the International Federation (FIBA) not to play the match in line with its principles and steadfast positions in such circumstances." The Jordanian federation did not reveal any further details, but Jordanian newspaper Ad-Dustour said the decision was due to the war on Gaza. Amos Frishman, president of the Israeli Basketball Federation, expressed regret at Jordan's decision. "I strongly believe that sport is a bridge between people and cultures and not a political arena," he was quoted by local media as saying. Reuters
Asharq Al-Awsat
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Jordan Refuses to Play Israel over Gaza War, Forfeits Match
Jordan refused to play Israel at the FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup in Switzerland on Sunday in protest at the Gaza war, Jordanian media reported, and the international basketball federation said the game would be forfeited in favor of Israel. The official Jordan News Agency said the local basketball federation "sent an official request to the International Federation (FIBA) not to play the match in line with its principles and steadfast positions in such circumstances." The Jordanian federation did not reveal any further details, but Jordanian newspaper Ad-Dustour said the decision was due to the war on Gaza, reported Reuters. Amos Frishman, president of the Israeli Basketball Federation, expressed regret at Jordan's decision. "I strongly believe that sport is a bridge between people and cultures and not a political arena," he was quoted by local media as saying.
