Britain Denies U19 Palestinians into the UK

[dark_knight]

Action Alert: Britain Denies U19 Palestinians into the UK

Many organisations spent weeks and months planning to host the Palestinian Under 19 football team in a 3 week visit to the UK in September. This visit is no longer going to take place as the British Consulate in Jerusalem has refused to grant visas to the entire team and coaches.

The British Government, in a decision apparently taken at a senior level, have refused entry visas to the entire team. Although they will not provide reasons in writing, they say the decision was taken because the economic situation in Gaza, where the majority of the team are based, is so bad that they do not believe that the Palestinians will return home again. They deny taking the decision for any politically motivated reason, although they did say at one point that it was because the Israelis would not allow them to return - and so would create a refugee issue, but they have since denied this.

The team posed no threat and the tour was intended to provide support to a team of boys and young men who would have no other opportunity to play in real football stadiums. Britain is now directly aiding Israel in punishing the Palestinians by denying them freedom of movement on no legitimate grounds.

The imprisonment of the Palestinian team in this way is a stark contrast to the welcome Israels national team is expected to receive in its qualifier against England on September 8th at Wembley. This unequal treatment of Israeli and Palestinian football teams must be challenged.

Action Alert:

1. Write to the FCO:
   1. Demand to know the reason for the U19 teams visa refusals.
   2. Request that the decision made be reversed.

FCO, King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AH
Tel: 020 7008 1500

1. Write to FIFA, UEFA, and the FA asking them to suspend Israel from international football until it abides by International law.

Write letters to FIFA (contact@fifa.org), the FA (info@thefa.com) and UEFA (media@uefa.ch and info@euro2008.com) and to Kick Racism out of Football (hermanouseley@aol.com)


PROTEST RALLY SEPTEMBER 8TH WEMBLY STADIUM 3pm kick-off

We encourage everyone to attend the protest rally outside the England/Israel match on September 8th, in a show of unity with the Palestinians.

While Europe allows Israel to enter its sporting tournaments and turns a blind eye to its human rights abuses, we are in effect giving Israel impunity for its war crimes.

[Duncan]

How many at MPAC play football?
British clubs have plenty of foreign players. Why can't British citizens sign up for the Rafah football club? Then tour Britain.

That would embarrass our government for boycotting the Palestinian football team while not boycotting the Israeli football team.

ETA: How many Palestinians already live in Britain? Surely there are enough for a national side.

[Duncan]

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/thi...cle2851463.ece

Palestine’s senior football team know how they feel. When they played Uzbekistan in a World Cup qualifier in neutral Bahrain three years ago (games on home soil are out of the question), the 10 players travelling from the Gaza Strip repeatedly travelled to Rafah in an effort to cross the border. After a series of daylong detentions, they were eventually refused departure. Five of the squad were eventually allowed to cross after strenuous diplomatic efforts. These kinds of problems forced the side’s Austrian manager, Alfred Riedl, to recruit players from Chile, whose Arab population goes back a century, Egypt, Syria, and Kuwait, and even one American.

They shouldn't have to resort to such things, but obstacles to travel won't stop Palestinians from having a football team.

[iraniboy]

they say the decision was taken because the economic situation in Gaza, where the majority of the team are based, is so bad that they do not believe that the Palestinians will return home again

And how has has boycott the government of Palestine? Who has closed the borders so that fuel and food can't be transfered to Gaza? Who has cut the fuel supplies?

Palestinians are being punished for their votes.This is a grate tragedy and disgrace for all of the world.Of course for US ,it doesn't seems very horrific in comparision with other issues but for countries who claim supporting humanity and human rights,this is absolute disgrace.

[Mikebloke]

It sounds harsh but it does happen. Cuba has a huge problem with defections, it would only be natural if some or all of the Palestinian team tried to claim asylum and refused to go back until the situation gets better.

The UK is currently in a position where it has to take such matters into extreme consideration. It is a shame they did it though.

[Kashmiri]

In that case the UK should really stop handing out visas to virtually every 3rd world country. Especially Pakistan, since I know of a number of Pakistani's who came here on a temp visa yet they're still here after 8 or 9 years!

[dark_knight]

How many at MPAC play football?
British clubs have plenty of foreign players. Why can't British citizens sign up for the Rafah football club? Then tour Britain.

That would embarrass our government for boycotting the Palestinian football team while not boycotting the Israeli football team.

ETA: How many Palestinians already live in Britain? Surely there are enough for a national side.

i never thought about that....

we do have enough palestinians in the uk