Protestors target Israeli tennis player

JOHN SELKIRK/Dominion Post

'END ISRAELI APARTHEID': Veteran protestor John Minto, who was a key figure in the anti-apartheid protests of the 1981 Springboks rugby tour, leads a group protesting Israeli tennis player Shahar Peer's participation in the ASB Classic tennis tournament in Auckland.

JOHN SELKIRK/Dominion Post

SCARF ACE: A protestor outside the ASB Classic tennis tournament.

JOHN SELKIRK/Dominion Post

FRONT LINE: John Minto talks to police.

JOHN SELKIRK/Dominion Post

PROTEST TARGET: Israeli tennis player Shahar Peer.

JOHN SELKIRK/Dominion Post

CROSS COURT: Oops, old National Party signs were used for the placards.

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Israeli Shahar Peer, the subject of a protest outside the ASB Classic tennis venue in Auckland, completed her quarterfinal match without disruption today.

About 20 protesters who gathered outside the main entrance this morning for a noisy demonstration against Israel's military offensive in Gaza were moved on peacefully when Peer's match with Russian top-seed Elena Dementieva began in the early afternoon.

Peer, the No 5 seed, was given a warm welcome by fans when she arrived on court and supporters in one corner of the stadium displayed two Israeli flags.

Security was boosted at the venue today, and included bag searches, and there was also a discreet but visible security presence at courtside.

The match itself lasted just 63 minutes, with Dementieva dominant against Peer, who put up a brief fight in the opening set, but then faded to a 6-3 6-1 defeat.

The result ended Peer's involvement in the Classic. She had lost in the second round of the doubles yesterday with Danish partner Caroline Wozniecki.

Jerusalem-born Peer, 21, was making her third appearance in the tournament, and she indicated yesterday that she wanted to come back next year.

The protesters, led by veteran activist John Minto, waved placards and called for Peer to withdraw from the event.

Police initially tried to move them, but Mr Minto said they had a right to take their action.

After talks with Tennis Auckland management, the protesters were allowed to stay put outside the tennis centre.

A lone pro-Israel demonstrator stood opposite the group with the sign reading: "Minto supports Hamas Murderers. Hamas murders hope."

Fans heading into the centre had mixed opinions about the group's protest.

"I don't believe that Hamas have any morals," Aucklander Rosalie Widger told NZPA.

"They shield themselves behind civilians. It's dreadful what's going on, Hamas is firing into Israel and they are trying to stop it."

Hamiltonian Bob Wilcock said the protesters had a fair point of view, but also thought the action was "a bit simplistic" and one-sided.

- NZPA