Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, legendary basketball player who, during his 20-year career as an NBA all-star made more points, blocked more shots, and won more MVP awards than any other player in history until his retirement in 1989, has canceled his upcoming appearance in Israel due to “concerns arising from Nakba day violence.”
According to the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, Abdul-Jabbar was slated to show his new documentary film about racial segregation in basketball, On the Shoulders of Giants, to an Israeli audience in a visit promoted by the Israeli foreign ministry and the Israeli consulate of New York. He was also due to compete for the “Spirit of Freedom Award” at the Jerusalem Film Festival.
The US Campaign reported today:
In private correspondence, the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation has confirmed that the former Los Angeles Lakers star has decided not to visit Israel, due to concerns arising “after the Nakba Day violence.” This year’s commemoration of the Nakba left 12 unarmed Palestinians dead after Israeli forces opened fire on refugees attempting to exercise their internationally recognized right of return.
Stand by for a torrent of invective.
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