By Andrew Warshaw
August 5 – A symbolic breakthrough in Middle East football relations will take place on Thursday when a Palestinian team from the Gaza Strip will host West Bank opposition for the first time in 15 years after Israel gave permission for the latter to cross its territory.
The Gaza Strip’s Al-Shejaiya and Al-Ahly from Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank will play the first leg of the Palestine Cup in Yarmuk, a fixture that appeared in doubt before Israel, whose territory separates the two areas, allowed it to go ahead. The return leg in Hebron is scheduled for August 9 with the winners competing in the next Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup.
Prior to Al-Ahly’s arrival in Gaza, Palestinian officials claimed Israel was blocking the team’s entry. The Israelis appeared to have relented after a complaint by the Palestinian FA to FIFA which has been endeavouring to play a mediation role in the area. At the FIFA Congress in May, the PFA at the last minute withdrew a proposal for Israel to be thrown out of world football but only after FIFA agreed to send observers to monitor the situation. The PFA has long complained that Israel restricts the movement of players and officials to and from Palestinian territories.
The PFA admitted that at one point it had threatened to call off the game. “The association decided to annul the match after the Israeli authorities banned the football players in Hebron to cross from the West Bank to Gaza through Israel,” said a statement. “The PFA immediately addressed urgent letters of protest to the international football federation (FIFA) and its executive board as well as to the European Union and as well as the Arab and Asian football unions,” it said.
Palestinians hope the historic move could lead to unified competitions for Gaza and West Bank teams while the players also expressed their joy. “I am full of honour and pride, this is the first time I have ever visited Gaza and I can’t find the words to describe my feelings,” Al-Ahly forward Khaldon al-Halman told Reuters.
Al-Ahly President Kifah Al-Sherif said he hoped the match, which could attract up to 10,000 fans, would ease political tension in the region, as much among Palestinians themselves as between them and the Israelis . “We hope that the match will be a way to embody the unity of our people, especially since our politicians are so divided,” he said. “If it goes ahead it will be proof that sport can achieve advances that politics cannot.”
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