Israeli windsurfers snubbed by Oman
Israel’s windsurfers are set to miss out on next week’s world championships in Oman, with International Sailing Federation (ISAF) president Carlo Croce saying “there is no way” to solve the matter by the start of the event next Monday.
Despite the Shin Bet’s objection, the Israel Sailing Association (ISA) decided earlier this week that it will send Ma’ayan Davidovich, Shahar Zubari and Nimrod Mashiah to the championships, assuming the surfers are reissued new visas.
The ISA had notified the organizers last week that the Israeli delegation will not take part in the championships due to security concerns raised by the Shin Bet, resulting in the cancellation of the visas. The ISA backtracked a day later and tried to pressure the hosts into issuing new visas in time for the event. However, the organizers from the Muslim Sultanate claimed they are unable to produce new visas so quickly and Croce, who is in Israel for the 470 Class world championships in Haifa, suggested on Tuesday that the Israelis move on.
“There is no way to get there because it is too late,” said Croce.
“The [Israeli] decision was taken at the wrong moment when they decided they could not go and then they changed their mind and it was far too late for the people in Oman to get them in. I tried again today to get a positive answer, but they said no way. We have to forget it and focus on next time.”