Israel has withdrawn from the premier women’s tennis tournament in Bosnia scheduled for April due to “tangible” security concerns, the Israel Tennis Association (ITA) announced Thursday, amid heightened tensions with Iran and Hezbollah.
The International Tennis Federation approved Israel’s request to drop out after a detailed review of the security situation and concerns for the safety of the players, most of whom are very young, the ITA said.
The decision also considered the participation of teams from other Muslim-majority countries, including Morocco and Egypt, as well as the risks of traveling to Bosnia, described by the ITA as “not especially friendly to Israel.”
Israel had explored the possibility of hosting the tournament domestically but ultimately abandoned the plan due to security constraints. Ronen Morley, captain of Israel’s national tennis team, said the decision was necessary to protect the players and ensure their professional futures would not be harmed.
The move follows a recent travel warning issued by Israel’s National Security Council, citing “concrete concerns” that terrorist groups may target Israelis abroad, particularly after Israel and the United States launched bombing operations against Iran’s nuclear and missile programs in late February.
Regional tensions have also escalated into Lebanon, where Iranian-backed Hezbollah resumed attacks on Israel, and multiple Jewish sites abroad have been targeted in related incidents.
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