Yesterday, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) said the encounter, scheduled for September 12 to 14 in Tel Aviv, would have to be held on neutral ground because of the bloody conflict which has reportedly killed close to 2,000 Palestinians and 64 Israeli soldiers.

The ITF had given the ITA until August 14 to nominate an alternative venue.

But it has filed an appeal today asking for the decision to be overturned.

It wants the tie to either be played in Haifa - the largest city in northern Israel - or moved to October 24 to 26.

The appeal questions why Ukraine's Davis Cup tie with Belgium is going ahead in Kyiv, despite recent violence in the east of the country.

"We call on the ITF to examine its inconsistency regarding its decision in these two cases and request to look into the matter once more in order to bring the tie back to Israel, whether in Tel Aviv or Haifa and whether in September or October 2014," the ITA wrote in its appeal.

Juan Margets (right) has sought to explain why Ukraine's Davis Cup tie can go-ahead in the country and why Israel's cannot ©AFP/Getty Images



The ITF is expected to give its response to the appeal on Tuesday (August 12).

Juan Margets, chairman of the ITF's Davis Cup Committee, said last week that "after long deliberation, they were convinced that Kyiv would provide a safe environment for the tie with Belgium".

He added: "The decision on Israel versus Argentina was more problematic for the committee because the situation in Israel is very fluid at the moment and yet security in Israel is of an exceptionally high standard.

"Ultimately the outcome rested on the lack of certainty of the situation at the date of the tie, on the decision of other sports not to compete in Israel at this time and on the ITF's duty to ensure the safety of players, officials and spectators."

Israel is aiming to return to the World Group after a one-year absence following its 3-1 victory over Slovenia in the Europe/Africa Zone Group I.

The Association of Tennis Professionals has cancelled the Negev Israel Open in Tel Aviv, which was scheduled for September 15 to 21, as a result of the ongoing conflict.

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