Pro-Palestinian demonstrators have Been Protesting for Three Consecutive Days Against Israel’s Participation in the European Baseball Championship. On Monday, hundreds of fans were only able to enter the stage after half an hour for the match between the Netherlands and Israel. A report from Rotterdam.
Evert-Jan ‘t Hoen Sees Remarkly Many Empty Seats in The Neptunus Family Stadium On Monday Evening at 7:30 pm. “Yes, that was noticeable,” Says the coach of the Dutch baseball players after the victory about Israel (9-1) in an interview with nu.nl.
“But the referees Said Play Ball , so we had to start the match. Of course, some players and Staff members were very worried about family and friends who they dide in the stands yet. We did know what was happening outside.”
Outside the Stadium, About Four Hundred Fans Are Waiting in A Long Line to Enter. Several boxes Pro-Palestinian demonstrators started Blocking the Entrance 42 Minutes Before the Match.
They had Been Given a demonstration Area by the Municipality of Rotterdam, Under A Tree about 50 meters in Front of the Gate. But just like on Saturday, the first day of the European Championship, the demonstrators because to prevent spectators from watching a match of Israel.
Me Escorts Protesters to Demonstration Area
Protesters Wave Palestinian Flags and Have Signs with Texts Like: “Never again is now”, “Stop Sportswashing Boycott Genocide” and “I love baseball, I love Jewish People, But the Genocidal Regime of Israel Breaks My Heart”.
A man says through a megaphone to the baseball fans: “We will not leave until the organization say’s they will boycott Israel. I understand that it is unpleasant, but genocide is also unpleasant.”
A Few Spectators Engage in conversation with the demonstrators, but most wait patiently. At 7:53 pm, A van from the mobile unit (me) arrives. The Police Repeatedly Warn the Protesters That They Must Leave the Entrance.
A Small Part does not comply, whereupon the me intervenes and escorts the demonstrators to the demonstration area. Twenty minutes later, when the match between Orange and Israel Has Been Going on for about Forty-Five Minutes, All fans are in the stage.
0:53
Me Intervenes in Pro-Palestinian Protest at European Baseball Championship
Baseball Association Saw No Reason for Exclusion of Israel
Rotterdam Palestine Coalition (RPC) had Already Announced Protests Before the European Championship. The Action Group Believes that Rotterdam and the Baseball World are Cooperating in the “Normalization of Genocide” with the participation of An Israeli Team. That is why they are standing in front of the Neptunus family stadium for the third day in a row on monday.
The European Baseball Confederation Announced A Month Before the European Championship that the Federation Saw No Reason to Exclude Israel From the Tournament. “Participation in European Tournaments is only based on sporting conditions and not on political consultations,” WBSC Europe wrote in a statement.
The Association also Emphasized That Israel, in contrast to Russia, “is fully recognized in the Sports World” and Stated that Decisions on the Exclusion of a Country Lie With “Higher Authoritionies Such As The Ioc”.
Tournament Director Sent Letter to Mayor
Tournament Director Jorian Van Acker Has Often Been Asked in recent weeks What the Difference Between Russia and Israel is. “But we are a local organization,” he says in the sixth inning of the Netherlands-Israel match in an interview with nu.nl. “If the European Association Says That Israel Has Qualified for the European Championship, what should we do?”
Van Acker Emphasizes That Het Respects The People Who Are Demonstrating Against Israel at His Tournament. “I think it’s fine that stage to Ask for Attention for that. What I ask is that it happens in a way that also shows respect for my visits. That is not happening now and I have no understanding for that.”
The Tournament Organization Sent a Letter to Rotterdam Mayor Carola Schouten on Sunday Requesting More Support. “We want our visitors to simply be able to go inside to watch matches,” Says van Acker. “I think I should say that letter again.”
The match between the Netherlands and Israel Proeds Without Incident on the Field. Oranje Wins Convincingly and is on Course for the 25th European Title. Israel Goes to An Intermediate Round. “Our players are here to play baseball. Today that Went Very Well,” Says Coach ‘t Hoen. “But of course this was not a normal match. Everyone saw that.”
