Freies Politikforum für Demokraten und Anarchisten

palestina libera · Beiträge: 1665

Hundreds of fans at a football match between Glasgow Celtic and Israeli side Hapoel Beer Sheva turned whole sections of the stadium into a sea of Palestinian flags in a protest against the Israeli occupation, ignoring an official ban on political demonstrations.

Before the start of the Champions League cup qualifier, activists from the group Palestine Alliance handed out flags and leaflets on the Nakba, or Catastrophe, the 1948 war that led to the creation of Israel and rendered millions of Palestinians refugees. Police outside Celtic Park warned fans against bringing flags into the stadium.

Celtic could face penalties from UEFA, Europe’s football governing body, for allowing the protests to go ahead, but some fans said they were prepared to pay any fine themselves to show their opposition to Israel's participation in the competition.
http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/scottish-football-fans-protest-match-against-israeli-team-palestine-flags-1552150491

Gaza football club dazzles Ireland

Fourteen boys from Gaza have brought joy to Ireland by displaying their football skills during a tour of the country.

Three weeks after the crushing disappointment of being refused exit permits by the Israeli authorities, the youngsters from al-Helal football academy were special guests of Galway United Football Club on 5 August.

The talented young Palestinian footballers got to showcase their talents before Galway United’s biggest crowd of the season. Al-Helal played an exhibiton game during the half-time break in a match between Galway United and Dundalk.
https://electronicintifada.net/content/gaza-football-club-dazzles-ireland/17651

Egyptian judo athlete sent home for refusing to shake Israeli's hand

An Egyptian judo athlete was sent home from the Rio Olympics after refusing to shake the hand of an Israeli player following the end of their bout, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Monday.

Islam el-Shehaby, who was sent home by his own team, lost the fight against Or Sasson on Friday and was reprimanded by the IOC for his actions.

The athlete said he did not want to shake hands with an Israeli, nor was he obliged to do so under judo rules, but the IOC said his behaviour went against the rules and spirit of the Olympic games and the rules of fair play.

“Shaking the hand of your opponent is not an obligation written in the judo rules. It happens between friends and he's not my friend,” Shehaby said after his bout.

“I have no problem with Jewish people or any other religion or different beliefs. But for personal reasons, you can't ask me to shake the hand of anyone from this state, especially in front of the whole world,” he said.
http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/egyptian-judoka-sent-home-over-refusal-shake-hand-israeli-opponent-1163003779