Israel`s Ram Given Visa To Play In Dubai

A UAE foreign ministry official was quoted as saying the doubles specialist would be given `special permission` to take part.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will allow Israel's Andy Ram to play in the men's Dubai Championships next week, the state news agency WAM said on Thursday.

A UAE foreign ministry official was quoted as saying the doubles specialist would be given "special permission" to take part.

"This ... does not politically imply any form of normalisation with countries with which the UAE has no diplomatic relations," the official told WAM.

Top Israeli player Shahar Peer had to forfeit her place in the women's tournament in Dubai this week after the UAE blocked her visa application.

"We welcome the change of the UAE policy which will allow Andy Ram to play this week in Dubai and which clarifies that all Israeli athletes will be able to compete in future tournaments in UAE," Women's Tennis Association chief Larry Scott said in a statement.

Tournament officials defended the stance, saying local fans would have boycotted the event if an Israeli was allowed to compete and that Peer's safety could also have been compromised.

The UAE, like most Arab countries, has no diplomatic ties with Israel and routinely denies entry to Israelis.

Tensions have been heightened after the three-week Israeli offensive against the Gaza Strip, which killed 1,300 Palestinians and 14 Israelis. Although the conflict ended in January it caused deep anger around the Arab and Muslim worlds.

The refusal to issue a visa to Peer violated WTA Tour rules, which state any player should be able to compete where she wishes if she has the required ranking.

After players, officials, Jewish leaders and even some sponsors condemned the UAE for excluding Peer, pressure mounted on the men's ATP tournament to be cancelled if Ram was also denied entry.

RIGHT DECISION

"I am pleased that the efforts to secure Andy Ram's visa to compete in... Dubai next week have been successful," ATP chief Adam Helfant said in a statement.

"The UAE government has made the right decision.

"No player, who qualifies to play an ATP World Tour event, should be denied their right to compete on the basis of ethnicity, nationality or religion and we are happy that the Dubai Tennis Championships and the UAE have shown that they share that view."

Scott said the women's tour would still take action against the women's tournament for barring Peer.

"Shahar Peer is owed all of our thanks for her courage in challenging an unjust policy and for forcing action to be taken that resulted in today's announcement," Scott said.

"It is deeply regrettable that Shahar had to suffer the negative consequences of the UAE decision this past week in order for this policy to get turned around for the benefit of others.

"What happened to Shahar last week was discriminatory, reprehensible and unacceptable, and the Tour will shortly be determining remedies for her, penalties to be imposed on the tournament, and the additional assurances we will require to guarantee all Israeli athletes entry to the UAE so that future tournaments in the UAE may take place."