Argentina cancels match with Israel: Nothing friendly about military occupation, says BDS

Palestine: Argentina’s national football team has cancelled an upcoming friendly match with Israel which was to be played at Jerusalem’s Teddy Stadium on June 9, which is built on land that was once a Palestinian village that was destroyed in 1948, Aljazeera reported.

Argentine news sources reported quoting Argentinian sports website Minutouno that Saturday’s game in Jerusalem had been “suspended” amid an “escalation of violence, threats and criticism” directed at captain ‘Leo’ Messi.

In light of the latest development, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will speak to his Argentinian counterpart Mauricio Macri by telephone.

The ambassador of Palestine in Argentina, Husni Abdel Wahed told Radio Coperativa on Tuesday that “This match would be similar to us celebrating … the occupation of Malvinas,”, referring to the Falkland Islands.

 

“For us it is unacceptable to hold this game in Jerusalem because it is occupied territory, and it is painful to see that the team, which has the love and support of so many Palestinians and Arab citizens, support the violation of international law,” he said she quoted by Aljazeera

Last month, the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement- launched a campaign urging Argentina to pull out of the fixture.

“There is nothing ‘friendly’ about military occupation and apartheid,” the movement said, which calls for an end to the occupation of Palestine, the right of return for Palestinian refugees, and equal rights for Palestinians citizens of Israel.

 

As part of the campaign, Mohammed Khalil, a Palestinian footballer, directed a message toward Argentina’s beloved forward Lionel Messi.

 

Khalil was shot by Israeli snipers on March 30, in both of his legs, and one of his knee caps had to be removed, putting an end to his footballing career.

Earlier this week, the head of the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) Jibril Rajoub slammed the friendly as being opposite “a game of peace”.

“The Israeli government is trying to give it political significance by insisting it be held in Jerusalem,” Rajoub said, Aljazeera reported.