November 20 – Work on a football stadium being built in the West Bank, and financed by FIFA, has been stopped, after Israel claimed that it wanted to use some of the land for its own use.
The Israeli Government warned the almost-completed stadium may have to be demolished, as the correct permission had not been issued for its construction, despite a formal approval of the construction of the stadium, issued by the Israeli military in 1981.
The stop-work order issued earlier this month said: “You are hereby obligated, in accordance with section of the 1966 City, Village and Buildings Planning Law, to cease activity upon and use of said land, and to raze the building, and to restore the location to its previous state within seven days.
“If you do not act as required, all legal means will be taken against you, including demolition of the structure and any means required to restore the situation to its prior state, at your expense.”
The Palestinian stadium is a project developed to bring some hope to the impoverished and besieged West Bank population, particularly younger generations.
Its development is a joint effort by FIFA and several Governments, including France and Germany.
Construction of the stadium began more than three years ago.
The final stage, the erection of the stands, began in February this year, and the stadium is just three weeks from completion.
Israel has long been accused of obstructing Palestinians from representation and participation in international sports, which critics say is to deny Palestinian national identity.
In March 2006 Israel bombed the Palestine Football Stadium in Gaza, leaving a massive crater in the middle of the pitch.
The FIFA stepped in and paid for the cost of restoring it.
In 2004 Israel tried to prevent the Palestinian football team from participating in the the World Cup qualifiers, by stopping several members of the team from leaving Gaza.
