By Andrew Warshaw
August 1 – Tensions between Israeli and Palestinian football authorities have seriously escalated after the final of the Palestine Cup, one of the most important fixtures in the region, was postponed by two days on Saturday when several Gazan players were barred from crossing through Israel to reach the West Bank town of Hebron where the fixture was scheduled to be played.
The game between Hebron-based Ahly al-Khalil and Gaza’s Shabab Khan Younis was called off after six Shabab players plus a coach and the team’s spokesperson were barred from crossing into Israel. Several Gazan players also reported humiliating treatment by Israeli forces at the Erez crossing, the only active border crossing in and out of the Gaza Strip, according to local reports.
The Palestinian Football Association, which last year was persuaded at the 11th hour by FIFA to withdraw a motion to throw Israel out of world football after being promised stronger mediation efforts, says the game, rescheduled for today, will be cancelled altogether unless all those barred are allowed entry and has urged Fifa to intervene.
“This behavior is embarrassing,” Palestinian FA boss Djibril Rajoub, whose federation is in a bitter struggle with its Israeli counterpart over the freedom of movement of Palestinian players and officials, was quoted as saying.
“The players arrived at the checkpoint and were forced to wait 12 hours and to undergo interrogations and checks that have no relationship to security. The sole purpose was to wear them down for hours upon hours in the burning heat, and in the end to allow only part of the team to pass the checkpoint and reach Hebron.”
In last week’s first leg of the final, Ahly al-Khali visited Gaza and beat their hosts 1-0. The Palestinian Cup pits the winners of leagues in the two territories against each other for a place at next season’s AFC Asian Cup.
The Israeli army controls the crossing in and out of the Gaza Strip and Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic intelligence agency, told the Haaretz newspaper it decided to not let the Palestinian players leave the Gaza Strip “due to damaging security information and in light of the security situation.”
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1715755721labto1715755721ofdlr1715755721owedi1715755721sni@w1715755721ahsra1715755721w.wer1715755721dna1715755721