Football and Palestine
Back in 2006 I posted on EFT about the destruction of the main football pitch in Gaza by an Israeli missile. It was an example of how even football is a legitimate target for Israel's policy of collective punishment against the Palestinians for resisting their ceaseless occupation. The link is here: Football in Gaza
It came just a year after Israel thwarted the Palestinian national football team's efforts to qualify for the 2006 World Cup by refusing permission for members of the team based in Gaza - whose borders the Israelis' control - to travel to Uzbekistan for a crucial World Cup qualifier on the well-worn pretext of security grounds.
So against this backdrop I was very glad to recently see hugely positive news regarding football and Palestine. For last Sunday there was a historic occasion in the newly built Faisal al Husseini Stadium in occupied East Jerusalem as Palestine competed in their first ever home international match in their own country.
Palestine played out a 1-1 draw against Jordan in front of a packed stadium including the FIFA President Sepp Blatter. See the match report here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7691924.stm
Football is one of the many institutions of Palestinian civil society that has been targeted by Israel to try to prevent the expression and coalescing of a visible, positive and bold collective national identity - which runs counter to the official Israeli policy of fragmenting, dehumanising and empoverishing the Palestinian people.
So for me this news of Palestine being able to play an international game on their own land has tremendous value as an outstanding visible affirmation of the Palestinian national identity to endure in the face of ongoing Israeli oppression and attempts to efface it.
The value of the game of football transcends itself on many occasions - and this is another shining example.
posted by T at 10/28/2008 03:09:00 pm
EFT match of the season for 2008/2009: Barcelona construct a masterclass footballing performance to defeat the reigning Champions League holders and current English champions, Manchester United, by a scoreline of 2-0 in the 2009 Champions League final in Rome
EFT player of the season for 2008/2009: Chelsea central midfielder, Frank Lampard
EFT player of the month for May 2009: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea)
EFT player of the month for April 2009: Andrey Arshavin (Arsenal)
EFT player of the month for March 2009: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for February 2009: Phil Jagielka (Everton)
EFT player of the month for January 2009: Nemanja Vidic (Man Utd)
EFT player of the month for December 2008: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for November 2008: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea)
EFT player of the month for October 2008: Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for September 2008: Frank Lampard (Chelsea)
EFT player of the month for August 2008: Amr Zaki (Wigan Athletic)
EFT match of Euro 2008: Turkey's amazing comeback from two goals down to beat Czech Republic 3-2 as captain Nihat Kahveci's two goals in the last three minutes sensationally put his country through to the quarter finals at the expense of their beaten opponents
EFT player of Euro 2008: Spain (anchor) central midfielder, Marcos Senna
EFT match of the season for 2007/2008: Liverpool win titanic Champions League quarter-final second leg 4-2 against Arsenal that also saw two of the best football moments of the season - Fernando Torres' top corner strike and Theo Walcott's thrilling run across the whole of Anfield.
EFT player of the season for 2007/2008: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
EFT player of the month for May 2008: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
EFT player of the month for April 2008: Ashley Young (Aston Villa)
EFT player of the month for March 2008: Fernando Torres (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for February 2008: David James (Portsmouth)
EFT player of the month for January 2008: Ronaldo (Manchester United)
EFT player of the month for December 2007: Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn Rovers)
EFT player of the month for November 2007: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for October 2007: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
EFT player of the month for September 2007: Francesc Fabregas (Arsenal)
EFT player of the month for August 2007: Fernando Torres (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for May 2007: Carlos Tevez (West Ham Utd)
EFT player of the month for April 2007: Wayne Rooney (Manchester Utd)
EFT player of the month for March 2007: Carlos Tevez (West Ham Utd)
EFT player of the month for February 2007: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester Utd)
EFT player of the month for January 2007: Thierry Henry (Arsenal)
EFT player of the month for December 2006: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester Utd)
EFT player of the month for November 2006: Didier Drogba (Chelsea)
EFT player of the month for October 2006: Jussi Jaaskelainen (Bolton Wanderers)
EFT player of the month for September 2006: Andrew Johnson (Everton)
EFT player of the month for August 2006: Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth)
EFT match of World Cup 2006: Italy win a thrilling 'end-to-end' World Cup semi-final 2-0 against Germany courtesy of two late extra time goals from Fabio Grosso and Alessandro del Piero 
EFT player of World Cup 2006: Italy captain and centre-back, Fabio Cannavaro
EFT match of the season for 2005-2006: Liverpool win the FA Cup final 3-1 on penalties against West Ham after a Steven Gerrard-led fighback saw the Anfield side recover from 2-0 and 3-2 down to level the match in normal time
EFT player of the month for May 2006: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for April 2006: Jamie Carragher (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for March 2006: Robbie Keane (Tottenham Hotspur)
EFT player of the month for February 2006: Aiyegbeni Yakubu (Middlesbrough)
EFT player of the month for January 2006: Jason Roberts (Wigan Athletic)
EFT player of the month for December 2005: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for November 2005: Robin van Persie (Arsenal)
EFT player of the month for October 2005: Frank Lampard (Chelsea)
EFT player of the month for September 2005: Danny Murphy (Charlton Athletic)
EFT player of the month for August 2005: Wayne Rooney (Manchester Utd)
EFT match of the season for 2004-2005: Liverpool win Champions League final 3-2 on penalties against AC Milan after sensationally recovering from 3-0 down to level the match in normal time
5 Comments:
I think it is always very good news when a deprived state turns away from violence and onto sport. There is a lot of talent coming through from this area and as you say 'T' it is a plus for the population that they have a national team to be proud of. On the other hand the restrictions that had been imposed on them by Israel wer understandable from their point of view, and it show that both sides are at least trying to normalise their lives.
10/29/2008 10:09 am
Ditto the article and comment above. Refreshing for the Palestinians to have another branch to their nationality other than the negative reporting of fighting and death that usually remains the focus of news items. How this will reflect on further attempts to play outside of Palestine is another sensitive issue. Can Palestine play all qualifiers in Jerusalem?
RedsMan.
10/29/2008 12:15 pm
Thanks for this write up. I too was heartened when I read this last week. I completely agree that its fantastic news.
GP - Im not sure how refusing permission for members of the Palestinian team based in Gaza - to travel to Uzbekistan for a World Cup qualifier is "understandable"?
10/30/2008 6:27 pm
As I said Abdul, its perfectly understandable from a jewish point of view, of course if you are looking from an Arab pt of view it is not.
All I hope is that all outsiders (like me ) supports this bit of daylight in a very dark area that has been full of hatred for centuries. Sport is one way of showing from one side to the other side that they are not the animals they were brought up to believe.
10/30/2008 7:00 pm
"its perfectly understandable from a jewish point of view"
Oh, I can understand it from a Jewish point of view. They want to suppress the people from branching out into other spheres of society and the world by claiming security issues restrict the safety and security of the world, that ropes in everyone's safety and from that the Palestinians are a threat to all. They wouldn't be if the Israelis would own up after years of occupation of a home that does not and will not belong to them. Dont understand it from a Jewish point of view, you imbecile, check your history books first and resources and feel the pain of those who have had to fight for their right for so long, have had so many die for the sake of the Israelis and their greed and friendship with the Americans, who also bring in the British support as standard. Understand that more from a Palestinian's point of view and feel what it feels to lose your land, your heart, your freedom and your dignity.
"of course if you are looking from an Arab pt of view it is not."
And you damn well did not.
10/30/2008 7:26 pm
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