Kicking Out BDS

There is a growing feeling among Israel and the Jewish people that the world is against us and the BDS (boycott, divestement and sanctions) is growing in strength.

But sport at least long ago ruled BDS offside as the awarding of the Euro 2013 Under 21 football finals to Israel again demonstrates.

For years Uefa refused to accept Israel as a member because of the Soviet veto. Not only was Israel eventually unanimously accepted to Uefa, even though it is not in Europe or an especially significant sporting power, but in recent years major events like the Uefa Under 17 finals, the Uefa Congress and now Euro 2013 have been awarded to Israel.

Only in the darkest days of the Second Intifada and the Second Lebanon War did Uefa switch games away from Israel.