While Israel uses sports to normalize itself and its apartheid regime in the eyes of the world, Tel Aviv impedes Palestinian sports because Palestinian sports is, at its core, an act of resistance.
By Ramzy Baroud, CounterPunch
The Palestine National Football Team has, once more, done the seemingly impossible by qualifying for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. By any standards, this is a great achievement, especially as the Palestinians have done it with style and convincing victories over Mongolia, Yemen and the Philippines, without conceding a single goal. However, for Palestinians, this is hardly about sports.
This accomplishment can only be appreciated within the larger context of the Israeli occupation of Palestine.
In November 2006, the Israeli military prevented all Palestine-based footballers from participating in the final match of the Asian Football Confederation qualification group stage. The news had a major demoralizing effect on all Palestinians. Even rare moments of hope and happiness are often crushed by Israel.
As disappointing as the Israeli decision was, it was hardly compared to the collective shock felt by Palestinians everywhere when, in 2007, Palestinian players were not allowed to participate in a decisive World Cup qualifying game against Singapore. Instead of showing solidarity with Palestinians and condemning Israel, the International Football Association (FIFA) decided to award an automatic victory to Singapore of 3-0.
This is why Palestine’s latest qualification is historic, as it is more proof that Palestinian resilience has no bounds. It sends a message to Israel as well, that its unjust draconian measures will never break the spirit of the Palestinian people.
Recent Posts
Israel Escalates its Aggression on Lebanon After Ceasefire Extension
Take Action Now Hezbollah reaffirmed that it does not trust the ceasefire negotiations, and vowed to continue resistance against the IOF.By Aseel…
From Student Encampments to the DNC Divide, A Zero Hour Conversation With Nadia Ahmad
Take Action Now Attorney/activist Nadia Ahmad helps us trace the arc.By RJ Eskow and Nadia Ahmad, The Zero Hour Report Two years ago, the nation…
The World is Getting Too Hot to Feed Itself
Take Action Now A new U.N. report maps how extreme heat is tearing through every layer of the global food system — and mostly overlooks the people at…
Cuba’s Fate Should Not Be in U.S. Hands
Take Action Now U.S. officials are relying on Trump’s executive order of January 29 which, without evidence, accused Cuba of being an “extraordinary…