Palestinian footballers denied visa to tour England

The Palestinian U19 football team was due to tour England for a few weeks starting later in August.

However, it has been cancelled by the British Consulate in Jerusalem denying them visas. More here.

The highlight of the visit was to be a match at Ewood Park on 8 September - which coincidentally is the same day that England take on Israel at Wembley in a Euro 2008 qualifier. Doubt the Israelis will have so much trouble getting in.

Comments

[Frank J Dougan]

These people should be kept locked up in the Gaza there is no place for moronic muslims in Britain

[j0nz]

Yeah. Well I doubt that any of the Israeli team belong to internationally recognised terror organisations. Just a guess...

[AJ]

Probably as they know once there here they will have 22 members of a football team, there staff and there entourage trying to claim asylum.

[joe90]

From the ISM
where they provide lots of advice on how to help the Palestinian National Football Team -
http://www.palsolidarity.org/main/2007/08/22/britain-denies-under-19-palestinian-football-team-entrance-into-the-uk/>Britain Denies Under 19 Palestinian football team entrance into the UK
22 Aug 2007
From the Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Here is some background on the deliberate actions taken by Israel in pursuit of its boycott and war crimes against Palestinian football -
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article2851463.ece>New UK visa rules halt Palestinian youth football tour
By Ian Herbert
The Independent
10 Aug 2007

Here is one of England's greatest sons, also writing in The Independent -
http://comment.independent.co.uk/columnists_m_z/mark_steel/article2883835.ece>Oi! Referee! That footballer's Palestinian!
What are we doing banning a touring team from Gaza because it is 'too poor'?
Mark Steele
The Independent
22 Aug 2007

Alexei Sayle is trying to help Palestinian football and a repeat of one of his radio comedies is coming up soon -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/radioschedules/tuesday/>Lenin of the Rovers
Starring Alexei Sayle.
Comedy about one man's struggle to establish Britain's first communist football team.
3:00 - 23:30 [Rptd Wed 4.00am].
28 Aug 2007
BBC Radio 7

I hope people find some of this useful (and not just fitba daft maddies)!

all the best folks!

ps
http://football.guardian.co.uk/breakingnews/feedstory/0,,-6861761,00.html>Soccer star Maradona tells Chavez he hates U.S.
One of the most brilliant soccer players ever, he led Argentina to its 1986 World Cup victory and is revered in his own country and around the world.

Typical English propaganda!
Maradonna, or God to use his proper name, isn't "one of the most brilliant soccer players ever", he's the best ever.
And anyway, what is 'soccer' when it's at home?

As one of England's greatest football managers, Bill Shankly ( a Scot, naturally) said,
"Football isn't about life and death. It's more important than that!"

[joe90]

From War on Want -
http://www.waronwant.org/UK%20%27hypocrisy%27%20over%20Palestine%20soccer%20ban+14861.twl>UK 'hypocrisy' over Palestine soccer ban
Press release

All the best RuT!

[joe90]

[My apologies for repetitive postings!]

Here is some good advice, and excellent post, from 'RandomPottins' blog
(which I can recommend as an excellent blog)
http://randompottins.blogspot.com/2007/08/how-about-fair-play-for-palestine.html>How about fair play for Palestine?
21 Aug 2007

"I have written to my MP urging him to ask the Foreign Office for an explanation of its action.
Palestine Solidarity Campaign is recommending people write directly to the FCO:
Demand to know the reason for the U19 teams visa refusals.
Request that the decision made be reversed.
FCO, King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AH
Tel: 020 7008 1500
Perhaps people abroad could also ask the UK government's diplomatic and cultural representatives why Britain is barring a soccer team from Palestine."

Also,
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/>TheyWorkForYou.com
- as well as being a brilliant resource, will let you know how to get in touch with your local MP!

[joe90]

Here is
one MP's reply to her constituent regarding the treatment by the British Government of the Palestinian National Football team cancelled visit to Britian, posted on the JPUK messege board -
Re: Britain bans Palestinian football team
From the Office of Dr Phyllis Starkey, MP
posted by gbrmk
24 Aug 2007

all the best everyone!

ps
Buy Palestinian football strips from the
http://www.gphrc.org/main.html>Glasgow Palestinian Human Rights Campaign
Unfortunately, due to market forces the only sizes available at the mo are 'small' and XXL - which sounds ok if you are running a Scottish Sunday League Pub team, if my experience of Scottish fitba is anything to go by!

Visit their stall every Saturday in Buchanan Street, Glesgae.

Please, take the time to read GPHRC's recent reports from Palestine - they also have at least one YouTube video online I have seen some of the members involved in, to do with Balata Refugee Camp(?) -
http://www.gphrc.org/reports%202007.html>Members reports July - August 2007

Don't forget or confuse these organisations -
http://www.ism-scotland.org/>ISM_Scotland
and
http://www.scottishpsc.org.uk/>Scottish Palestinian Solidarity Campaign

pps
http://desertpeace.blogspot.com/2007/08/israel-kills-2-hamas-terrorists-one.html>ISRAEL KILLS 2 HAMAS TERRORISTS~~ ONE AGED 10, THE OTHER AGED 12
DesertPeace
24 Aug 2007

[joe90]

My apologies
for that first link which doesn't work - here it is again -
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/JustPeaceUK/message/21301>Re: Britain bans Palestinian football team
JPUK messege board
24 Aug 2007

I might as well post this while I am here -
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=6606>NYPD's Homegrown Hysteria
by Nat Parry
Global Research,
22 Aug 2007

An influential report by two New York Police Department counterterrorism analysts crosses a dangerous threshold in recasting the “war on terror” as primarily a struggle that requires increased domestic surveillance and pre-emptive action against American Muslims who might become “homegrown terrorists” by visiting Internet sites.

Bush's war on the US Constitution and attack on American Law and Order continues - using America's very own Reichstag Fire, the Twin Towers, as his excuse in his campaign to destroy what's left of American democracy, using Muslims as scapegoats, in the same way Hitler used the Jews.

[joe90]

Palestine Football update

http://randompottins.blogspot.com/2007/08/footballers-banned-from-britainmps.html>Footballers banned from Britain: MPs demand answers from Miliband
RandomPottins
24 Aug 2007

23 August 2007
Rt Hon David Milliband MP
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
King Charles St
LONDON SW1A 2AH

Dear David
I write to inquire about the recent refusal to allow the Palestinian youngsters into the UK for a football training camp in Chester. Information which has reached my office from individuals closely involved in the above application (who are, not surprisingly, outraged), leaves me wondering what could possibly be the rationale for such a harsh stance. I would therefore be pleased if you could outline the reasons for this refusal.

As a result of the ongoing sanctions by the UK and others, against the democratically elected government of Palestine, the Palestinians are suffering horrendously, particularly in Gaza where many of these youngsters live. As well as this, what shreds of faith they still have in the so-called peace process are further diluted by small but significant actions such as this visa refusal.

I think it is fair to say that much of the public are aware of two very relevant factors here: the first is that Israel is soon to play England at Wembley, and the second is that the government has focussed much in the past on a so called “even handed approach” when it comes to Israeli/Palestinian issues. In view of these two factors alone, many will not be able to comprehend this decision.
I would be pleased to hear that you have decided to review this application as a matter of urgency and I look forward to hearing from you
Yours sincerely
Jeremy Corbyn MP Islington North

[joe90]

RandomPottins
mentions the Palestinian footballers, in passing, in this post -
http://randompottins.blogspot.com/2007/08/better-news-from-brussels-it-seems.html>Better news from Brussels, it seems
RandomPottins
28 Aug 2007

Someone else has got in touch with their Glasgow MSP with regards to Palestinian footballers being refused visas on utterly absurd grounds -
- however, there is also some interesting and very good news about a United Nations Committee on the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, UNISPAL, forthcoming conference to take place in Brussels, which the only democracy in the Middle East tried to sabotage.

The RandomPottins post publishes a letter from some of our fellow European Jewish sisters and brothers to the President of the EU.

This is their website -
http://www.ejjp.org/>European Jews for a Just Peace

Brilliant stuff - it doesn't get any better!

All the best everyone!

[joe90]

"Despite the U19 Palestinian football team tour not being able to go ahead,
there will be some events during the next week to raise support and funds for
the Palestinian footballers. Palestinian Striker Morad Fareed has come to the
UK at short notice to appear at some of these events - please go along and
support them if you can. Details follow."
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/JustPeaceUK/message/21342>Film screenings for Pal football team
posted by peacecycle2005
JPUK

[joe90]

http://dishonestreporting.blogspot.com/2007/08/august-24-media-critique-independents.html> August 23 Media Critique: “The Independent's Foul Play”
dis-Honest Reporting blog
25 Aug 2007

Also from the same blooger, try his equally brilliant -
http://israelforumwatch.blogspot.com/>Israel Forum Watch
IsraelForum.com; 24-Hour Vilification, Apologetics and Hate from a Fanatically Pro-Israel Viewpoint

all the best!

ps
from 'Qumsiyeh: A Human Rights Web'
100 of the best -
http://qumsiyeh.org/predominantlyjewishlinks/>Predominantly Jewish Links

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