By Paul Nicholson
June 23 – Human rights group Nonviolence International has released the full report written in conjunction with the Palestinian FA into the abuses and disruption by Israeli authorities of footballers and football in the Palestinian occupied territories.
While the talk in FIFA’s diplomatic circles has generally been focussed on the Israeli government restrictions on movement of players and officials internally, the report highlights other disturbing areas of Israeli activity including violence against players, the prevention of stadium construction and pitch development, as well as military intervention to prevent youth tournaments and training schemes taking place.
The incidents catalogued go back to 2010 with a large number taking place in 2013, particularly concerning the movement of players and officials to attend tournaments, including the AFC-sanctioned WAFF (Western Asian Football Federations) 8th Mens Championship.
However, the report also details the cancellation of international friendly matches and touring teams as well as the impounding of equipment from suppliers including adidas
Palestine were persuaded at the FIFA Congress earlier this month to withdraw a motion calling for the suspension of Israel from FIFA. The Palestinians were promised instead a renewed diplomatic effort on the part of FIFA to find a solution.
Palestine is a member of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), while Israel is a member of UEFA and recently hosted a UEFA age group championship. Both confederations are understood to have lobbied hard at senior level to get the Palestinians to back down. The report by Nonviolence International was made available at the Congress.
The report documents five major areas in detail: Obstruction of Movements of Palestinian Players, Coaches, and Officials; hindering delivery of football equipment; construction restrictions of sports facilities; Israeli dissuasion of visiting teams; and violence against Palestinian players.
Jonathan Kuttab, co-founder of Nonviolence International and a Palestinian attorney, said: “This is the first comprehensive report which has documented scores of examples of obstacles enacted by the Israelis in the area of movement of Palestinian players and in many other areas outside FIFA’s current efforts.”
The report details a long ‘charge’ list including (taken from the executive summary) those listed below:
– Halting construction of artificial turf pitches in Burin, Beit Ummar, and Beit Foreeq in 2010
– Halting of the building of a grass pitch in Beit Leqya under zoning pretenses.
– Halting of construction of the Sa’as Sayel Stadium due to alleged ‘security reasons’
– Halting of the Beit Ummar Stadium due to ‘security reasons’: proximity to Road #60
– Halting of Majed Asaad Stadium in Al-Bireh due to alleged ‘security reasons’: cheering spectators
– Bombing of Palestine Stadium in Gaza in 2012
– Halting of a children’s match at the Al-Zaitun pitch in 2013 before shutting down operations indefinitely
– 16 U14 footballers prohibited from entering the West Bank to train with the national team (February 2013)
– 5 PFA members delayed from entering Palestine for the AFC U19 Men’s Qualifiers (October 2013)
– 7 members of the PFA, POC, and media were prohibited from participating in Youth Week, including Mr. Amassi, a high-ranking official (November 2013)
– 3 National Team players prohibited from joining the team for the WAFF 8th Men’s Championship (December 2013)
– 2 players of the Myanmar Women’s team were delayed for hours because they both used a different passport from the ones originally submitted to the PFA. Although their permits were later prepared, they could not play the scheduled match because of the physical and mental exhaustion caused by the ordeal (May 2013)
– Iraqi children’s team was detained in their vehicle for hours attempting to cross Allenby Bridge. Initially, the entire Iraqi delegation of 38 individuals was prohibited from crossing into Palestine; however, the authorities allowed the team—save 5 people—entry but only a few days following the commencement of the tournament (August 2013)
– 13 staff members, 6 members of the Jordanian team, 10 members of the UAE team were rejected one day before the competition, prompting the PFA to contact international football institutions such as the FIFA and UEFA. After pressure from the international football community, the Israeli authorities permitted most of the individuals. Successive delays resulted in most visitors’ entering 3 days already into the competition. (August 2013)
– 4 members of the Bahraini team and 2 members of the Omani team were delayed entry for the AFC U19 Men’s Qualifiers: 1 of the Omani team members was refused due to a supposedly invalid passport, and though the 4 Bahraini permits were processed, they were delayed a few days due to the alleged absence of a typist to complete the permits (October 2013)
– 2008 shipment of Adidas goods destroyed
– 2010 shipment of referee equipment blocked at Tel Aviv airport and has not been cleared to this date
– 2010 UEFA shipment of youth equipment ‘mistakenly’ stored in a large bin, incurring storage costs of over 15,000 USD
– 2009 hosting of Brazilian Flamengo and Corinthians teams cancelled due to ‘financial problems’ which Israelis indicated could only be solved if they agreed to a joint match with the Israelis
– 2011 friendly match with Zambia cancelled: Zambian Football Association “advised by the Government not to proceed” after Israeli political pressure
– 2011 friendly match with Gambia cancelled due to supposed “logistical constraints”
– 2011 friendly match with Central African Republic cancelled: US interference on behalf of Israel aided in this cancellation
– Mahmoud Kamel Mohammad Sarsak: incarcerated without a trial while en route from his native Gaza to the West Bank to meet his Markaz Balata football club. He was interrogated for 30 days and his family denied the opportunity to visit him. He remained in jail for 3 years, and commenced a hunger strike for 85 days that threatened his life.
– Omar Khaled Abu Rweis: the Olympic team goal keeper was abducted from his workplace at the Palestine Red Crescent by Israeli military forces who charged him with involvement in a terrorist cell and incarcerated him without further proof of such defaming charges
– Saadi Ibrahim Namir: Al-Amaari professional club player, arrested and denied a trial
– Basel Mahmud: coach of the Al-Isawiyah Club’s Women’s team was brutally attacked by the Israeli Army.
– Johar Nasser Aldeen Halabiyeh and Adam Halabiyeh: 19 year-old Abu Dis club player Johar and the 17 year-old Adam were attacked the night of 31 January 2014. Johar suffered from three bullet shots to the leg and foot and later brutally beaten by the IDF, whose dog nearly removed a chunk of his arm. The two were tried in the Military Court but released. The young men’s burgeoning football careers were ruined that night.
– Saje Darwish: The 18 year-old footballer was killed by a sniper on his way to a match 10 March 2014
The full report can be downloaded at http://nonviolenceinternational.net/?p=2232
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734906714labto1734906714ofdlr1734906714owedi1734906714sni@n1734906714osloh1734906714cin.l1734906714uap1734906714
