The movement of Palestinian players between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip through the Israeli-controlled territory, has been a hot topic over the previous year.
Advertisement
A view of Gilo.
“The Israeli authorities have recently advanced plans for the construction of (Israeli) settlements in the West Bank: 770 new homes in Gilo settlement and another 323 dwellings in various neighborhoods in East Jerusalem”.
It exposes Israel’s lie that its measures are for “self-defence”, instead showing how Israel imposes collective punishment on all Palestinians.
“We have been seeing more and more settlements built in the past few years and increased demolitions of Palestinian property recently”, said Jamal Dajani, director of communications for Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah.
This latest petition has called on FIFA to “either remove the settlement football clubs from its membership or relocate them outside the illegal settlements”.
“We remain troubled that Israel continues this pattern of provocative and counterproductive action, which raises serious questions about Israel’s ultimate commitment to a peaceful, negotiated settlement with the Palestinians”.
The Palestinian agency said seven players had been waiting at the Erez crossing, on the border between Israel and Gaza, for permission to enter since the day before the match.
Israel controls everything in Palestine – even sporting events. Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of a state they seek to establish in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
A bill that opponents say targets Israeli human rights groups critical of Israel’s policies towards the Palestinians won initial approval in parliament yesterday (8 February) with the support of right-wing parties.
Advertisement
The occupied territories have witnessed new tensions ever since Israeli forces introduced restrictions on the entry of Palestinian worshipers into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the East Jerusalem al-Quds in August 2015.
