Israel drops out of top women's tennis tournament in Bosnia over security concerns

Israel has dropped out of the premier women’s tennis tournament in Bosnia in April due to “tangible” security concerns, the Israel Tennis Association announced Thursday, amid the wars with Iran and Hezbollah.

The International Tennis Federation accepted the ITA’s request to drop out, which “followed an in-depth examination of the security situation in Israel, as well as tangible concern for the players’ safety and security,” the ITA said on social media.

The decision not to compete in Bosnia took into account the threat level involved in travel to the Muslim-majority Balkan state, “which is not considered especially friendly to Israel,” as well the participation of “teams from other Muslim nations, including Egypt and Morocco,” the ITA said.

The Israeli body added that it had even considered hosting the tournament in Israel this year, but had to give up “because of the security situation.”

Ronen Morley, captain of Israel’s national tennis team, was quoted by the ITA as saying the decision to drop out of the Billie Jean King Cup was the best move “under the present circumstances” and followed “the concern expressed by the players, most of whom are very young, and the understanding that we would not be harmed professionally.”

“Had the trip been set for today, Israeli security authorities wouldn’t let us leave,” he said. “Our first and foremost responsibility is to keep the players safe.”

Earlier this month, Israel’s National Security issued a travel warning in light of a “concrete concern that terrorist elements are working to harm Israelis abroad,” after “several attempts” that were foiled since the US and Israel launched a bombing campaign on Iran on February 28.

The bombing campaign seeks to destabilize Iran’s regime and destroy its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

Iran has responded with missile and drone strikes across the region, and the conflict has spilled over into Lebanon, where Israeli airstrikes have killed hundreds and displaced over a million after Iran-backed terror group Hezbollah renewed its attacks on Israel on March 2.

Multiple Jewish community sites abroad have been targeted in attacks linked to both Hezbollah and Iran since the start of the US-Israeli bombing campaign.

Click here to read article