AN Israeli player has withdrawn from competing at a World Bowls Tour contest in Scotland after thousands signed a petition calling for him to banned.
Israeli national qualifier Shalom Ben Ami was set to compete at the Scottish International Open at the West Lothian Indoor Bowling Club, from November 5 to 7.
Show Israeli Genocide the Red Card (The Red Card Group) and Scottish Sport for Palestine condemned the decision to invite him to compete and insisted for it to be withdrawn.
More than 4000 people signed a petition against his country's participation.
Now, Ben Ami has been withdraw and will not play in the competition.
READ MORE: Calls for Israeli qualifier to be banned from Scottish bowls contest
World Bowls Tour, the event organisers, said in a statement released on their social media: “Shalom Ben Ami (Israel) has withdrawn from the WBT Scottish International Open which will be held at West Lothian Indoor Bowling Club from Tuesday 5th to Thursday 7th November.
"Shalom has withdrawn due to personal reasons and PBA Israel have decided not to re-place Shalom with another representative.”
Red Card Glasgow and Scottish Sport for Palestine have said they have suspended all planned demonstrations.
In a joint statement, campaigners said "Scotland can be proud once again," adding:
"We salute every single person who put their name to the 4000 letters that were sent to the organiser World Bowls Tour (WBT), key members of the Scottish Government and local parliamentary representatives. We honour the petitioners for being on the right side of history.
"When the history books have dismantled the despicable narrative of western governments and their mainstream media, every person who signed these letters can say how they had acted with humanity on behalf of the oppressed and brutalised people of Palestine and Lebanon."
The group then further called on any representative from Israel, that may have planned to compete in the World Championships in Norfolk, in January 2025, to also withdraw.
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The groups previously argued that Ben Ami’s involvement “flies in the face” of calls by the International Court of Justice for governments and international organisations to take steps to end the “apartheid” regime in Israel through relevant actions.
A ruling from the ICJ earlier this year said that Israel’s occupation of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is unlawful.
The court said that Israel's legislation and measures violate the international prohibition on racial segregation and apartheid.
The ICJ mandated Israel to end its occupation, dismantle its settlements, provide full reparations to Palestinian victims and facilitate the return of displaced people.
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