Sabbah Report » soccer

Israel and the World Cup: Always Scores High

Haitham Sabbah — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 20:03:19 +0000

By Haitham Sabbah | Sabbah Report | www.sabbah.biz

Congratulations to all football lovers, the countdown has finally come to end and now we can all watch the new edition of the World Cup. Football was always one of the few things that brings the world together. Well, everyone but Israel. It seems that Israel has an allergy to sports, joy and good times, especially if those who are trying to enjoy are Palestinians.

Of course, Palestine like all other nations, loves football and has always tried to build a national team that can compete and reach global tournaments. But how can this dream come true if we know that Israel misses no opportunity to shatter these dreams in ways such as denying players from travel or even killing them.

A couple of years ago, Palestinians expressed their national pride through a football team that decided to make history with its first ever international home game. Although Palestine has been a FIFA member since 1998 it has been denied a home ground and it has been forced to train and play overseas due to Israeli occupation.

Unable to compete in international matches, but still wanting to share the excitement of playing with other nations, the 16 teams in Gaza, 200 players altogether, were part of the "Gaza World Cup", with matches against 200 internationals living or present at the time in Gaza who formed teams. For the Gazan players it may not have been quite the same as being able to compete with players of the same level of expertise, but one thing is certain, it was a victory for everyone, no matter which team was winning the matches.

But the picture was not always rosy. Israel respects no one and spares no one. Many players and athletes were denied traveling, but that's not the worst that Israel has done. Killing youngsters is the best game Israel plays. In fact they have won the terrorists’ cup by killing thousands of children and civilians. Some of these children were just playing football, others where enjoying the sun and water on a Gaza beach before they got slaughtered with Israeli missiles.

Four years ago, on the eve of the World Cup 2006, a day like this day, Huda and her family were trying to enjoy their outing on Gaza beach when the Israeli navy decided to practice the game they play best, the massacre is still know as the Gaza beach massacre. Huda's brother, sister and parents were blown to pieces on that bloody sunny day. Who knows, maybe Huda and her family were passing a football to each other, a game the Zionist soldiers hate to see without practicing their sport of killing by aiming at the ball and hitting the goal by killing seven innocent family members.

Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpWmWuurFc4

But Israel claims to love football! In fact in their infamous mobile phone ad, we saw them putting aside their killing skills to enjoy a football match "over the wall", the Apartheid Wall. But it did not take much time to put their sport skills to test, and guess what? The killing instinct woke up when the Palestinians tried to test that advertising and did throw a football over the Wall to the Israeli Occupation Forces. They did not get their ball back, but they were treated with tear gas and bullets. The only game the Israeli knows how to play well.

The advert:

Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=210H8wavqbc

The reality of Israel sport:

Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Et8VGyCDt10

Today, on the occasion of World Cup 2010, Bil'in activists tried to test Israeli football skills again, but you can guess, the result was still the same:

Demonstrators in Bil'in today formed their own Palestine national football team, coinciding with the start of the World Cup, to highlight their right to be an independent nation. The players, together with dozens of other Palestinian, Israeli and international activists, marched to the annexation barrier at the edge of the village, where a goal was constructed and a game was begun. Several footballs were kicked over the fence onto land once owned by the village. Israeli soldiers responded to this entirely non-violent activity by firing volleys of tear gas at the participants. They then came through the fence, and arrested 6 journalists, four of whom were soon released. Two – one Palestinian and one international – remain in detention at the time of writing.

The tear gas canisters fired also caused large fires on the dry ground around the olive trees. Soldiers fired more canisters, aiming for the groups of villagers attempting to put out the flames.

It seems that Israel does not have a sense for football like all other nations. Only time and new matches can tell how many more lives they will "score".

Gaza World Cup (May 1st until May 15th, 2010)

Haitham Sabbah — Mon, 03 May 2010 08:18:41 +0000

It seems that football fans might be able to do what Arab governments have miserably failed to achieve or even address: lifting the illegal inhuman Israeli siege off Gaza!

Players line up before a football match on the first day of Gaza's version of the World Cup, in Gaza City, on May 2, 2010. Photo Xinhua/Wissam Nassar

Get involved!

Efforts like the Gaza World Cup, as cliché as it sounds, are only as strong as those who choose to seize the opportunity and get involved. Some have joined because they live in Gaza and know what the siege is doing to the long-term hope for peace. Yet so have many foreigners, as, whether they live in Gaza or have never been here, they can identify with what it feels like to suffer. Many others of varying religions are getting involved because they believe that faith should steer us towards respecting each other's humanity, not discourage it. And finally, a lot of newcomers to the Middle East are taking an interest simply because they're dumbfounded that none of the traditional powers have made any progress in the region over the last 60 years - and they want to help try something new - anything new - in the hopes that we can finally start to change direction in the Middle East. So for whatever reasons you're interested in supporting the Gaza World Cup, your involvement is warmly welcomed.

BRIDGING THE GLOBAL GAPS

Forming the core of the Gaza World Cup will be a partnership between 16 professional football clubs in Gaza and an equal number of foreigner amateurs residing in Gaza for various humanitarian purposes. The 16 Gazan clubs include each of the 14 first-level teams, and, if needed, the two highest ranking second-level teams. The availability of these 352 players will provide the backbone to ensure that the tournament is successful in both the caliber of play, as well as ensuring the event retains a strong local character.

Balancing out the teams begins with 250 international humanitarian workers and journalists from primarily Western countries currently residing in Gaza. Non-regional internationals currently based in Gaza and participating in the tournament include citizens of Britain, France, Holland, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States. Including these 125 potential players, along with encouraging outside journalists and other professionals with travel coordination residing abroad to journey to Gaza specifically to participate, the non-Arab participation goal is 100 players.

Regional participation will add a further layer of international solidarity to the tournament. With considerable numbers of Algerians, Egyptians, Jordanians, and Turks living in Gaza, a further six teams will play alongside the Palestinian team. The goal for regional participation, beyond Gazans, is 100 players.

In total, 400 players comprising 16 teams are planned, with 200 holding Palestinian nationality and 200 from other countries. And while a non-political event, it should be noted that a wide variety of Palestinian political factions are expected to join together and contribute players within the Palestinian half, promoting national unity over their own political agendas.

The teams involved are Algeria, Egypt, England, France, Germany, Holland, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Palestine, Russia, Serbia, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, and the USA.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Beyond direct player participation, the tournament will also extensively involve and unite many unique communities within the larger Gazan society. First off, each of the 15 matches will be free and open to the public, welcoming both men and women. And while all events will be confined to Gaza City for logistical reasons, it is widely believed that each of the 16 club teams from throughout Gaza will attract their own local fan base to the events.

A second goal of the tournament is to highlight the resilient strength and culture of Gaza, with a special focus on partnering art and technology with sport. Each aspect of the project, from designing logos, to billboards, to each of the 16 "national" jerseys, will be supported by local artists and graphic designers. And the winning team members will find themselves honored by a trophy hand-crafted from the reclaimed iron of Gazan wreckage, as well as intentionally celebrated by the skilled local tradition of urban graffiti. Each step will then subsequently be featured technologically, with a considerable effort to promote all aspects of the tournament online and in the media, supported extensively behind the scenes by local university students and recent technological graduates.

http://gazaworldcup.org/

Players of Palestine and a foreign team compete during the opening football match on the first day of Gazas version of the World Cup, in Gaza City, on May 2, 2010. The Gaza Strip kicked off its own version of the World Cup with teams of Palestinian footballers and foreigners representing foreign countries on Sunday. The trophy is made out of twisted metal and rubble from last year war with Israel. Photo Xinhua/Wissam Nassar

The first Saudi female soccer team, Congratulation!

Haitham Sabbah — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 17:04:09 +0000

On behalf of the Palestinian soccer fans and the Palestinian National Women Football team, I would like to congratulate the first Saudi female soccer team.

The first soccer match between female teams has taken place in Alkhobbar (Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province). The match was held between two teams of university students. The Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University team defeated their guests, the Al Yamamah College.

Although the match was held at a 35,000 capacity stadium in al-Dammam, no men were allowed in the stadium, and the referee and her linesman, as well as the fans, were also female.

Looks like the tied is changing -slowly- in Saudi Arabia. Few days ago there were news about allowing Saudi females to drive their cars (next day a lady was arrested for driving!), then Saudi Arabia eases rules for women to stay in hotels alone, today they are playing football, that is great and hoping to grant women more rights in Saudi.

[Source: Iqbal Tamimi - Palestinian Mothers]

Kick Arsenal Ball, OUT!

Haitham Sabbah — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 08:26:07 +0000

Sokari has the latest development about the English football club, Arsenal, deal with Israel.

After the Israeli tourism ministry delayed the start of its advertising campaign with Arsenal for fear of receiving negative reactions due to the recent war on Lebanese, the 515,000 euros deal was announced. Arsenal's managing director Keith Edelman said Israel would be the club's "official and exclusive travel destination." But that's not all. Here are some more:

- Israel will be featured on digital perimeter boards and 450 high-definition LCD screens at the stadium on game days;

- Israel will feature on the team's website, Arsenal.com; and in its magazine.

- The televised ads will reach audiences in an estimated 198 countries.

- The Israeli Tourism Ministry will receive intellectual property rights, the use of the team logo and the right to use photos of the team and its players in ads.

- The Israeli Tourism Minister will be allowed use the stadium banqueting hall twice a year and organize an exhibition at the end of the playing season

- The stadium will hold permanent sale tables for Israel t-shirts

So this English ~~sucker~~ soccer club has sold it sole to the Zionist and will be officially promoting the war criminals and the apartheid state of Israel, which is built on my occupied land and the blood of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian martyrs.

It is money, that's all. If you can buy a supper power country, you can buy a club, if you have the right connections and play it well.

Meanwhile, need I remind my English friends, and Arsenal fans that their club's sponsor; Israel, has ban the Palestinian team from traveling abroad to participate in Asian Games?! Don't we all promote that "sports" is another means of "peace"?! But not Israel. Now, "sport is another mean to promote the Israeli occupation and their terrorists."

Anyway, Sokari decided to ditch Arsenal after being one of their fans for very long. It's (y)our turn to do the same, if not more.

More:
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