Indonesia unhappy about playing tennis in Israel

Indonesia has been drawn to play Israel in the Federation Cup tennis competition. Indonesian tennis players and Indonesia’s Tennis Federation officials are eager to go, but the Indonesian government has other ideas.

Indonesia and Israel have no diplomatic relations, Israelis are not allowed to come here, because of politics (silly isn’t it?). In the past Indonesia has stopped its sports teams from traveling to Israel. Soebronto Laras, secretary-general of Indonesia’s Tennis Federation, said “We will go, if the government allows us.”

Indonesia has asked the ITF to move the venue to a neutral location, but the Israeli tennis federation refused. If Indonesia does not show up, it forfeits the tie and Israel go through. I have an Israeli friend, who would love to come to Bali for a holiday. Too bad politics and nonsense get in the way.