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Call to stop Israel from hosting major football tournament printable version

10 Sep 2014: posted by the editor - Sport, Palestine, Israel

As Israel bids to host matches for the UEFA European Football Championship tournament in 2020 in Jerusalem. the Palestinian BDS National Committee (PBDSNC)is calling on UEFA to 'show Israel the red flag'.

The PBDSNC said in a statement today: "This summer, Israel carried out another brutal massacre of Palestinians. More than 2,100 Palestinians in the besieged Gaza strip were killed and hundreds of thousands more were left displaced as Israel deliberately targeted homes, schools and hospitals.

"Now Israel is bidding to host matches for the UEFA European Football Championship tournament in 2020 in Jerusalem.

"Israel has launched a war on football in Palestine: footballers have been killed, stadiums bombed and players have been refused permission to travel to matches.

"Among those killed in Israel's recent massacre were Ahmad Muhammad al-Qatar and Uday Caber, two 19-year-old football players at the start of their careers.

"Israel hopes to host UEFA 2020 games in Jerusalem. Yet Israel continues to brutally occupy East Jerusalem, which is internationally recognized as occupied Palestinian territory. The Israeli government recently announced 2,220 settlement units in East Jerusalem as part of its continued ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from the city.

"As a letter to UEFA president Michel Platini from Palestinian sports teams and civil society organizations explains:
'By awarding the IFA the privilege of hosting the 2020 games in Jerusalem, UEFA would be sending a morally troubling message of approval - or even a reward for - Israel's grave violations of human rights in Gaza, East Jerusalem and elsewhere.'

"Tell Platini that UEFA must exclude Israel from the bidding when it meets to decide who will host UEFA 2020 games on 19 September."

TAKE ACTION - Tell UEFA to Show Israel the Red Card

Tags: UEFA, Israel, Palestinian BDS National Committee, football

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