Minister flies with basketball team after Turkey balks at Israeli security
Regev joins trip because local authorities say players can’t travel with armed guards without a minister on board
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Culture and Sports Minister Miri Regev traveled with the Ironi Nahariya basketball team to its game in southern Turkey Wednesday, ending a showdown between Israeli and Turkish security authorities on Wednesday.
Regev joined the team’s flight on Wednesday afternoon to Gaziantep after Turkish officials refused to allow Ironi Nahariya to be accompanied by armed security forces without the presence of a minister, according to government sources.
Earlier this week, the Shin Bet lifted its opposition to the squad flying to the restive city near the Syrian border after the team agreed to charter a special flight and bring its own security.
Nahariya is set to face off against Gaziantep for the second leg of a Europe Cup match Wednesday night. The Israeli team took the first leg 96-75.
Gaziantep, in southeastern Turkey, has been the scene of several attacks attributed to Islamic State and Kurdish rebels.
Police in the city earlier this month detained four suspected members of the Islamic State group and seized explosives and weapons intended for a “sensational” attack, Turkish news agency Dogan reported.
The Shin Bet had cited “exceptional” security circumstances in initially nixing the travel.
The Sports Ministry, however, appealed the decision, following which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to allow the team to travel, a Shin Bet spokesman said.
The spokesman said the threat level had not changed but that the agency would provide the delegation security in coordination with local forces.
Regev was forced to accompany the team after Turkish authorities said they only approve armed escort for guests with the rank of minister and above.
“Thanks to the insistence [of Regev and IBA chairman Amiram Halevy] and great efforts, the return match in Gaziantep is on as planned,” Ironi Nahariya chairman Nisim Alfasi said earlier.
In addition to allowing Irini Nahariya to play the scheduled game, officials in the Sport Ministry and the Israel Basketball Association were worried that refusal to travel to Turkey could jeopardize Israel’s long-awaited hosting of the Eurobasket tournament in August, sources told The Times of Israel.
Regev said she was happy they managed to overcome the difficulties, thanking the Israeli and Turkish security services for their efforts.
The team flew to Turkey on a special charter plane paid for by the ministry and the Israel Basketball Association, and headed directly to the stadium from the airport for the 6 p.m. game. They will fly back to Israel immediately afterwards.
Head coach Eric Alfasi said the team would fly with a small contingent, leaving some trainers and coaches at home.
Despite a recent uptick in Israeli tourism amid a diplomatic rapprochement, the Israeli government warns its citizens against travel to Turkey.
Four Israelis have been killed in terror attacks in Istanbul in the last year and several more injured.
Raoul Wootliff and AFP contributed to this story.
The Times of Israel Community.