By Andrew Warshaw, Chief Correspondent
January 3 – FIFA is requesting Israel to return VIP status to Palestinian Football Federation President Jibril Rajoub, allowing him to enter the country without security checks.
FIFA federation leaders traditionally receive the equivalent to diplomatic status when it comes to travel but because of the
tense situation in the occupied territories, Israel keeps a close check on all movements including those involving athletes and officials.
But FIFA has made it clear exactly where they stand on the matter by confirming they have asked the Israeli Football Association to help secure Rajoub’s “freedom of movement” and prevent him having to go through the usual bureaucracy.
Middle East reports said the move came in a letter to Israel Football Association President Avi Luzon from FIFA Secretary-General Jérôme Valcke asking Rajoub’s pass be returned in order to allow him to attend events around the world.
An Israeli defense official confirmed Rajoub’s status had been lowered last month along with that of another Palestinian official, Nabil Shaath, because they had “incited to violence against Israel”.
He said they could travel freely in and out of Israel but now needed to show credentials and could be subject to security checks.
The status change is likely linked to the recent United Nations endorsement of a Palestinian state in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza which prompted outrage in Israel.
Last year Palestinian football officials called on UEFA to strip Israel of hosting the 2013 European Under-21 Championship over Palestine national team players being detained without trial.
Fifa too expressed its concern at the situation, pointing to the detention of three Palestine footballers including Mahmoud Al
Sarsak who was arrested in July 2009 at a crossing between his native Gaza and Israel on his way to the West Bank for a football match and went on a lengthy hunger strike before being promised release.
During the latest bitter conflict between the two sides, Fifa pledged to rebuild the Palestine Stadium in Gaza City after it was partially destroyed in Israeli air strikes.
The venue is one of three international stadiums used by the Palestine national team. The Israeli military claimed that the stadium had been used for launching rockets towards Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
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