Palestinian Football Association chief, Jibril Rajoub, said on Monday that the
atmosphere in the region is not appropriate for holding the friendly match
between Barcelona and a mixed team of Israelis and Palestinians planned for July
31.
President Shimon Peres and the president of FC Barcelona, Sandro
Rosell, announced last Thursday a plan to hold a special match for peace at
National Stadium in Ramat Gan involving the Spanish powerhouse and Israeli and
Palestinian players.
However, Rajoub poured cold water on the idea after
meeting Rosell in Ramallah last Friday and said on Monday that the decision to
hold the match was made by the Peres Center for Peace without consulting the
Palestinians.
“This is a good and amazing idea which I love. I really
think that sports and soccer can be used to build trust and create peace,”
Rajoub told Israeli radio station 102FM. “However, the decision was made without
consulting us. They think that it is our obligation to do what the masters of
the region demand. I heard about the idea from the Peres Center after they had
already arranged it all.”
Rajoub also complained that the Israeli
authorities have withheld the entrance of a FIFA expert to the West Bank for the
last few days and that four Palestinian national team players are not being
allowed to travel from Gaza to Ramallah.
“One match is not going to solve
the problems between the Palestinians and Israelis,” Rajoub added. “The current
atmosphere is not appropriate for a match like this. I disagree with the
behavior of the Israelis and the Barcelona president.”