The Israeli and Canadian teams will face off in relative silence in Halifax at the Davis Cup World Group 1 tiebreaker Saturday, Sept. 13, after Tennis Canada decided to keep fans out over fears of disruption and threats to safety based on intelligence from local authorities and national security agencies.
Tennis Canada insists the decision to hold the match in a closed venue was made in consultation with the International Tennis Federation (ITF), adding, “ensuring the safety of everyone involved, including athletes, fans, staff, volunteers, and minors, such as ball kids, remains our top priority.”
Tennis Canada CEO Gavin Ziv said in a statement that it was the only way to safeguard those involved “and preserve the event itself. While this outcome is very disappointing, it allows the tie to proceed in Halifax and ensures that our athletes can continue to compete at the highest international level.”
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) immediately denounced the silencing of Canadians by “extremists.”
Cheering for Team Canada is part of what it means to be Canadian, said CIJA CEO Noah Shack. “Yet, a small group of extremists have hijacked the Davis Cup, silencing thousands of fans—many of whom travelled from afar—who simply wanted to show pride in their country.
“It is unacceptable that hate, harassment, and intimidation have made it unsafe to support our athletes in our own country. We are at a crossroads. Extremists have targeted the Toronto International Film Festival, shut down Ottawa’s Capital Pride Parade, forced the closure of MPs’ offices, and even made everyday activities—like visiting bookstores or grocery stores—feel unsafe.”
The Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) also expressed its dismay about the announcement, which they note “comes less than one month after Tennis Canada rightly refused to give in to the demands of an open letter signed by more than 400 people to cancel the match-up between Canada and Israel.
“While we appreciate Tennis Canada’s efforts to push back against threats, harassment and intimidation from loud anti-Israel voices, this decision highlights the appalling reality faced by many Canadians today” said FSWC president and CEO Michael Levitt in a statement.
“Whether it is the intimidation of Jewish and other businesses, the canceling of Jewish and Israeli voices, or the targeting of sports, arts, Pride and political events, extremists are increasingly taking over our public spaces, making them unsafe and infringing on the rights of all Canadians to enjoy them.”
Canada urgently needs stronger leadership from public officials and institutions, says Levitt, “leadership that makes it clear we will not allow disruptive, extremist voices to dictate decisions and hijack and weaponize events. It is time to draw a clear line against the hateful tactics of a fringe group that repeatedly and relentlessly seeks to undermine our freedoms.”
CIJA’s Shack added that political leaders must decide “whether we are a nation governed by peace, order, and good government—or one where fear and intimidation dictate our way of life. We call on all elected officials and community leaders: take a stand. Defend our democracy. Uphold Canadian values. Reclaim our public spaces from hate.”
Also in the world of sports, the Grand Prix cycling events in Quebec City this Friday and in Montreal on Sunday Sept. 14, are expected to see similar disruptions to what occurred in several Spanish cities along the Vuelta a España event last week, when protesters disrupted the race due to the participation of the Israel-Premier Techteam, co-owned by Canadian-Israeli businessman and philanthropist Sylvan Adams.
The team competing in Quebec City and Montreal this week—the only North American stops of the Grand Prix tour— includes a number of Quebec and Canadian riders, and its title sponsor and other owners are based in Quebec. A group called Palestinian and Jewish Unity is calling for the team to be barred from local events.
On Aug. 27, a large protest cut short the final leg of one Spanish stage, and two days later, police detained about a dozen protesters who entered the course and blocked participants from advancing. A time trial was interrupted in dangerous fashion as riders were moving at high speeds. The team issued a statement, calling the protesters’ behaviour “not only dangerous, but counterproductive to their cause and deprived the Basque cycling fans, some of the best cycling fans in the world, of the stage finish they deserved.”
In response to protests that were deemed dangerous in Spain, the team changed its uniforms, replacing the team’s name with a star and initial, saying the new look aligns with branding decisions previously adopted for vehicles and casual clothing. “In the interest of prioritizing the safety of our riders and the entire peloton, in light of the dangerous nature of some protests at the Vuelta a España, Israel-Premier Tech has issued riders with team monogram-branded kit for the remainder of the race.”
The uniforms of Israel Premier-Tech’s cycling team have been changed, with the word Israel removed, following protests that have disrupted races, Sept. 9, 2025.
The Israel-Premier Tech team was met with protests at starts and stops throughout the competition, some larger than others, but all noisy and many requiring physical intervention by local police. The team also faced pressure to drop out from race officials, and Spain’s foreign minister declared that he would support their exclusion if it was within the government’s power.
IPT refused to pull out, stating that doing so “sets a dangerous precedent in the sport of cycling not only for Israel-Premier Tech, but for all teams. Israel-Premier Tech has repeatedly expressed its respect for everyone’s right to protest, as long as those protests remain peaceful and do not compromise the safety of the peloton. The Vuelta a España race organization and police are doing everything in their power to create a safe environment and, for that, the team is especially grateful.”
