Dubai, UAE - Dubai organizers of the Barclays Championships on Tuesday cited security concerns and "public sentiment" in the volatile Middle East as likely motives for a ban of Israeli player Shahar Peer from the event.

Three days after the United Arab Emirates government denied the number 45 a visa, the situation threatened to explode into a full-fledged diplomatic incident.

The recent Israeli air attacks on Gaza would not have helped the situation.

Suggestions that the rich Dubai event could be wiped from the WTA calendar have made the rounds, with officials also taking a wait-and-see approach to next week's men's ATP tournament on possible entry of a pair of Israeli doubles players.

"Concern was raised about her well-being and (with) her presence triggering similar protests," said a spokesman for tournament owner Dubai Duty Free of the Peer controversy.

"Given public sentiment, the entire tournament could have been boycotted by protestors."

Dubai is considered the most moderate and pro-Western emirate in the region and has made its name as a sporting, financial and tourism centre over the past two decades.

The WTA event was first held in 2001 after the men's event began in 1993.

"The tournament is a longstanding and loyal supporter of women's statement," said the statement read by a spokesman. "The tournament also respects Ms Shahar Peeer as a professional tennis player and understands her disappointment."

The statement added that "public sentiment is high in the Middle East and it is believed that Ms Peer's presence would have antagonised our fans who have watched live television coverage of recent attacks in Gaza."

The statement said that organizers "have to be sensitive to recent events in the region and not alienate or put at risk the players and the many tennis fans of different nationalities that we have here in the UAE." (dpa)