Public protests over Israel's attacks in the Gaza Strip will continue tomorrow with visiting Israeli tennis Shahar Peer the target in Auckland.
Protest organiser John Minto said there would be a protest at outside the ASB Classic in Stanley Street, calling for Peer to withdraw from the tournament.
About 1000 people marched through central Wellington yesterday protesting against Israel's air and ground offensive in Gaza and calling on the New Zealand Government to end its neutral stance.
"The sports boycott of Israel is a key part of any boycott campaign because it is much more visible than a trade or investment boycott and can have an important psychological impact," Mr Minto said today.
"We saw this with the successful sports boycotts against apartheid South Africa which had a big impact in South Africa and around the world."
Mr Minto said a letter had been written to Peer asking her to withdraw from the tournament, but she had not replied.
Peer, the No 5 seed for the classic, said today she was just a tennis player trying to do her best on court.
Asked if she had considered pulling out, Peer told journalists that there wasn't anything she could do about the politics of the situation in the Middle East.
"I have nothing to do with this," she said.
"I'm Shahar Peer. I came here to play tennis. I know I'm from Israel and I'm proud of my country and that [playing tennis] is what I'm doing to do tomorrow."
Peer, 21, said her brother, who had completed his compulsory military service, had been called up as a reservist.
"Two days ago, I was crying a bit, actually more than a bit, so it was a hard time for me," she said.
"I hope as soon as possible it will end and we will all be happy, because no one wants to be in a war."
Tournament director Brenda Perry said security would be increased at Stanley St tomorrow.
Global Peace and Justice Auckland organisers have suggested people bring old shoes to the 10am protest.
The group has suggested a "comprehensive boycott of Israel" but newly formed group Kiwi Friends of Israel said that would mean New Zealand would have fewer medicines, computers and other technology.
Foreign Minister Murray McCully said today attacks on United Nations facilities, including schools, in the Gaza Strip were of grave concern and underlined the need for both sides of the conflict to agree to an immediate ceasefire, Foreign Minister Murray McCully said today. "New Zealand is deeply worried by the mounting humanitarian crisis in Gaza as a result of the continuing Israeli ground offensive," he said.
"We call for Israel to immediately cease military attacks and for Hamas to immediately cease rocket and mortar attacks."
New Zealand supported the intensive efforts of world leaders, including President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, to halt the fighting, he said.
Pro-Palestinian protesters in New Zealand have called on the Government to condemn the Israeli invasion of Gaza, but Mr McCully has said the Government was not prepared to choose sides.
The Maori Party today called on the Government to take every step it could to try to help stop the killings taking place in Gaza.
"It is terribly frustrating to see on television the hundreds of people being killed and injured without being able to do something about it, said co-leader Dr Pita Sharples.
"I want our government to use all of the goodwill we have with the world's leading nations to bring this terribly disturbing loss of life and destruction of essential infrastructure to a halt."
