The younger cricketer was relieved of the U-19 captaincy after making pro-Israel feedback at an awards perform.
The South African Zionist Federation (SAZF) has demanded the reinstatement of David Teeger because the captain of the SA U-19 cricket team, forward of the U-19 World Cup which is being held in South Africa from Friday.
According to the SAZF a petition launched in support of Teeger, who was relieved of the team’s captaincy after statements he made final yr concerning the warfare between Israel and Hamas, has garnered virtually 50,000 signatures in its first 24 hours.
The SAZF have referred to as the choice to substitute Teeger as U19 captain “discriminatory and antisemitic”.
Though CSA launched an impartial investigation into Teeger’s feedback, made at a Jewish awards ceremony, which cleared him of wrong-doing, the cricket physique stripped him of the team’s management final week, citing safety issues.
The SAZF stated in an announcement: “This improvement will not be solely an act of antisemitism but in addition a violation of the South African Constitution. It unfairly targets and singles out a person primarily based on his Jewish religion and beliefs.
“Teeger’s continued presence in the team, albeit not as captain, further underscores the discriminatory nature of this decision.”
‘Targeted’
Teeger stated on the awards perform, the place he was honoured as a rising star: “Yes, I’ve been [given] this award, and yes, I’m now the rising star, but the true rising stars are the young soldiers in Israel,” Teeger stated, in accordance to the South African Jewish Report.
“And I’d like to dedicate it to the State of Israel and every single soldier fighting so that we can live and thrive in the Diaspora.”
Rowan Polovin, National Chairman of the SAZF stated in an announcement launched Wednesday: “The Teeger case has proven how the South African authorities’s vilification of the Jewish state has led straight to actions towards Jews who rise up for it. Anti-Zionism bleeds quick into antisemitism.
“Teeger was targeted for no other reason than that he is a Jew who expressed his Jewish beliefs. Being targeted solely for his Jewish identity and beliefs is utterly unacceptable and must be challenged.”
He added that: “The CSA’s rationale, citing security concerns, appears increasingly unfounded and is most likely politically-motivated. This is especially pertinent given the context of the South African government’s hostile stance against Israel and the timing of CSA’s announcement coinciding with South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.”
The SAZF is demanding that Cricket South Africa concern a proper apology and reinstate David Teeger as captain.
“If security is a genuine concern, CSA must articulate these issues clearly and explain why standard security measures are inadequate. CSA’s actions potentially violate International Cricket Council (ICC) regulations, and we urge the ICC to investigate the conduct of the South African Cricket board.”
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