Press release, various undersigned, 13 October 2009
The following press release was issued on 7 October 2009:
FIFA’s declared mission to use football to bring about “a better world” requires that clear signals be given to the apartheid state, Israel. The undersigned organizations call on FIFA to tell Israel it is off-side and to show it a red card for the World Cup.
Three Palestinian football players from the national team were killed during the Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip earlier this year. Because of the Israeli blockade and travel restrictions, the Palestinian national team there cannot practice with their teammates in the West Bank in their native land. They can only rarely take part in international competitions.
Palestinian athletes suffer constant discrimination and violent assaults. This is part of Israel’s decades-long refusal to guarantee the Palestinians their rights, freedom, dignity and their physical and spiritual integrity. This policy should be called apartheid. It is not only a violation of international law, but also of FIFA’s regulations against discrimination, and of the Olympic Charter.
South Africa’s exclusion from the world sports community until 1991 helped to bring about the end of racial separation in that country. Now, almost 20 years later, the World Cup will be hosted by South Africa in 2010. Decency, dignity and sporting fair play towards the hosts and the participating teams demand that Israel be subjected to the same sanctions. Numerous organizations and personalities in Israel and world-wide hope that increased pressure on Israel will induce it to respect the rights of the Palestinians. This is a prerequisite for peace.
We challenge FIFA to live up to the letter and the spirit of its statutes and to seize this opportunity to prove to the world that it stands for a more just world by sending Israel an unmistakeable threat of exclusion. This would be an important victory for human rights — not only for the Palestinian people, but also for the international football community.
No to apartheid!
Undersigned organizations: Basler Frauenvereinigung fuer Frieden und Fortschritt (BFFF), Bewegung fuer den Sozialismus (BFS/MPS), Collectif Judeo Arabe et Citoyen pour la Paix de Strasbourg, Collectif Urgence Palestine Vaud, Collectif Urgence Palestine Neuchatel, Frauen fuer den Frieden Region Basel, Frauen fuer den Frieden Region Biel, Gerechtigkeit und Frieden in Palaestina (GFP) Bern, Gesellschaft Schweiz-Palaestina (GSP/ASP), International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network (IJAN) France, Juedische Stimme fuer gerechten Frieden in Nahost (EJJP Deutschland), Kampagne Olivenoel, Neue PdA Basel, Mahnwache Bern, Palaestina-Solidaritaet Basel, Palaestina-Solidaritaet Zuerich, Sozialistische Alternative (SoAL) Basel, Union Juive Francaise pour la Paix (UJFP)
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This article is nothing less than sheer hatred of Israel.
Why don’t you pick on Sudan? They are very respectful of your phony human rights!!!!!
Israel is far more moral and democratic a country than most. If you’re looking for human rights abuses, look in the Palestinian territories. Or how about North Korea? Sudan? Libya? China? Rwanda? Ignorance is no excuse
This website is nothing but distoreted views and hatred.
What a bunch of hypocrites. No Arab country is a democratic country. All Arab countries are ruled by absolute kings and dictators. Their citizens have no freedom. Almost all terrorists are Muslims. Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East. It all boils down to the Arabs refusal to accept reality: after having lost five wars and two intifadas, Arabs continue to live the fantasy propagandized by their tyrants, that some day they will beat Israel. In the meantime, they will keep their citizens in the middle ages for several more centuries. The day the civilized world does not need Arab oil any more, is the day Arabs will be ignored by the civilized world.
The author either A) has a warped definition of apartheid or B) has never been to Israel.
Also, it should be noted that Israel has an HDI index of .935, higher than all of its neighbors. A rank that would be impossible to reach with a system of apartheid in place.
Gentleman/Lady, You all work for the Israeli Govt
One Word. Goldstone.
I’m from South Africa, I have first hand experience of Apartheid and I’ve visiting Palestine.
You’re Right, Isreal’s not an Apartheid state. Its worse.
Even Goldstone has been quoted as saying his report could not be used in a court of law. The U.N.’s track record is stellar when it comes to making fools of themselves with false reports, anti-semitic statements, and allowing true human rights abusing nations to populate its committees.
I think I’ll ask the Israeli Arabs who are members of the Knesset if they think they live in an apartheid state.
i like how this website consisting solely of one sided baseless propaganda is called Research and Information Network
ES Please provide this quotation.Goldstone’s report did recommend that HR violations be addressed in the International Court. In Addition regardless of whether Goldstone’s report can be used it remains fact that Israel committed Legal and Moral offences in its attack on Gaza and continues to do so.
Israel has not been able to deny/disprove any of the charges leveled against them in a court of International Law. I challenge you/them to do so.
@Abu, All the information on this website is a collection of Information freely available through reputed news agency’s around the world and reputed honored institutions such a HR Watch, and Amnesty International. I challenge YOU to disprove a SINGLE report on this site.
ES, Read these two articles regarding the Disenfranchisement of Arabs in Israel, http://rain.org.za/israeli-arabs-deserve-better/
And please note that 13 Arab Members of a approx 150Member strong knesset does NOT a democracy make. Are the Palestinians in Gaza and West bank who’s land Israel has stolen (wrt to International Law) by illegal settlements represented in the Knesset? Even tho a huge portion of their life is governed by Israel?
Also Read http://rain.org.za/israels-school-apartheid-highlighted-by-court-case-arab-family-sue-jewish-mum-over-racist-incitement/
Please note that Israel has since its inception almost entirely segregated between Arab’s and Jews. “A report published in March revealed that the government invested $1,100 in each Jewish pupil’s education compared to $190 for each Arab pupil. The gap is even wider when compared to the popular state-run religious schools, where Jewish pupils receive nine times more funding than Arab pupils.”
“Seperate but equal” used to be the cry of the White Rulers here in South Africa too. Will Israel be using that line also?
Well said Ridwaan.
These trolling Zionists have nothing better to do then spew forth propaganda and lies. Misdirecting people from the truth. The fact is that many South Africans, Israelis, Palestinians and respected foreign dignitaries,Muslim, Jew and Christians many of whom who have seen both Israel and Apartheid agree that Israel is worse then an Apartheid state. Don’t believe me? well a simple Google search on the topic referencing such people as Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela, Norman Finkelstein, Ronny Kesrels and others.
Look at all the pathetic hasbarats trying to denounce the sensible and necessary campaign to ban the fascist state of Israel from International soccer!
Israel is a cancer that must be cut out of the world, and cutting it out of FIFA is a good first step.
LOLOLOLOL – what nonsense. there is no such thing as Palestinians. It was a movement invented in the 60′s after Arab states (Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon) refused them citizenship.