Arrestees and loudhailers in court today

This morning the eight people arrested in protests against Israeli tennis player Shahar Peer at last month's women's tennis tournament will appear in the Auckland District Court for hearing dates to be set.

As part of the case the police are seeking destruction orders against loudhailers used during the protests.

Meanwhile we'd like the media to consider this picture of Shahar Peer posing for the media in her army uniform in front of an Israeli Army tank.

The photo emphasises her role as poster-girl for the Israeli military, regarded around the world as a force for state-sponsored terrorism against the Palestinian people. Peer could have joined the ranks of young Israelis who refuse to do military service (the "refuseniks") and suffer for their courage. Instead she went out of her way to encourage and promote recruitment to the Israeli military.

The photo was taken on her first day in uniform when she posed for a huge media contingent. She said her first day in the army was "better than playing Maria Sharapova".

When she was here the New Zealand media went out of their way to present Peer as an innocent young tennis player, just doing her job, and being harassed by bullying protestors. Let's hope the media does a bit more homework before she appears here again and gives New Zealanders a more balanced account of the protests.

ENDS

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