3 june 2015
Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, hailed the decision made by UK's National Union of Students to Join the global movement of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel.
In a press statement on Wednesday, Hamas said “We hail and welcome the Union” and perceived that it is deterrent to Israel.
The Palestinian resistance faction Hamas called for more of such European and international standings and decisions of boycotting Israel and protecting the Palestinian people.
Hamas, at the same time, called on the international community to accelerate prosecuting Israeli leaders in front of international courts for committing war crimes against Palestinians.
The director of the Euro-Mediterranean Observatory for Human Rights in Geneva, Rami Abdo, told the Anadolu agency that BDS was founded in 2005 by a request from a group of Palestinian academicians. It aims at boycotting Israel economically and academically as well as boycotting the settlement activities in the West Bank and Occupied Jerusalem.
The UK's National Union of Students (NUS), which represents millions of students at British higher education institutes, decided Tuesday to join the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel.
In a statement on Tuesday, the NUS condemned the Israeli occupation of Palestine as being illegitimate and contrary to human rights and international law.
In a press statement on Wednesday, Hamas said “We hail and welcome the Union” and perceived that it is deterrent to Israel.
The Palestinian resistance faction Hamas called for more of such European and international standings and decisions of boycotting Israel and protecting the Palestinian people.
Hamas, at the same time, called on the international community to accelerate prosecuting Israeli leaders in front of international courts for committing war crimes against Palestinians.
The director of the Euro-Mediterranean Observatory for Human Rights in Geneva, Rami Abdo, told the Anadolu agency that BDS was founded in 2005 by a request from a group of Palestinian academicians. It aims at boycotting Israel economically and academically as well as boycotting the settlement activities in the West Bank and Occupied Jerusalem.
The UK's National Union of Students (NUS), which represents millions of students at British higher education institutes, decided Tuesday to join the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel.
In a statement on Tuesday, the NUS condemned the Israeli occupation of Palestine as being illegitimate and contrary to human rights and international law.
Knesset holds special session about BDS campaign gaining momentum; Lapid tells Ynet: Boycott of settlement products could lead to boycott of all Israel products.
The Knesset held a special session Wednesday about the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel after the UK's National Union of Students voted in favor of joining the movement.
"This is anti-Semitism under new guise with the same symptoms," said Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked. Shaked's speech was accompanied by a lot of vocal comments from the other MKs. "There is a de-legitimization campaign against Israel happening right now. These are ephemeral organizations and we need to stop cooperating with them and cut ties, have them pay for their boycotts," Shaked said.
She then turned to members of the opposition saying, "Open your eyes and ears. In 2012, the UN General Assembly approved 22 resolutions against Israel compared to four against the rest of the world countries. This is a campaign of lies and threats and you (Meretz MKs) were standing at the podium reading quotes from Breaking the Silence, an organization which is slandering Israel and damaging it."
"Today, it's 'super in' to be anti-Israel," she continued. "If someone thinks withdrawals will help, they are wrong. The biggest diplomatic attacks against the State of Israel were all done because of Israel's operations in Gaza, from which we withdrew until the last centimeter. Are we also occupiers in the Negev? Israel's boycotts seek to erase the State of Israel, not divide it."
Minister Ofir Akunis took the podium next, aiming his attack at Meretz Chairwoman Zehava Galon. "The most contemptible acts in human history started with boycotts against the Jews," he said.
Galon responded with, "You think you can stand there and preach us and we will remain quiet? Come to 2015 already." "We cannot bear this victimization policy of yours, Ministers Shaked and Akunis," Galon said. "Calm down, because those who work in the service of this boycott are members of the Netanyahu government.
They are those who impose separation on buses and release videos of Arabs 'going in droves' (to the polls) and claims Arabs are playing games. You will have to decide: Either settlements or international legitimacy."
Meretz MK Michal Rozin, meanwhile, called on the Israeli government to take responsibility for Israel's part in the worsening of the international boycott.
"The way to deal with the increasing boycotting against Israel is not hasbara (diplomatic relations), but in putting an end to the occupation," she said. "The government must internalize that the boycott is a wakeup call and not anti-Semitic propaganda against the state."
"As long as we continue to 'manage the conflict' and avoid diplomatic negotiations, the world will continue taking measures against us," she added. Meanwhile, former finance minister Yair Lapid told Ynet on Wednesday morning that the European initiative to mark settlement products could lead to a boycott of all products from Israel and dramatically hurt the Israeli economy.
"The European consumer in Belgium or London is told 'you can't buy products because they're from the settlements.' Does he know where the settlements are? No, he knows where Israel is. So he is now no longer buying Israeli products and telling the supermarket owner, 'don't bring products from Israel because I'm not going to check now if it is from Ma'ale Adumim or Ra'anana.' How can he tell the difference?
It could de-facto create a boycott on Israel in all kinds of places. This is damaging to more than 30 percent of Israeli exports," he said. He warned that even the EU's foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, "who is a friend of Israel and truly hates Hamas and radical Islam," according to Lapid, "has already announced they are planning a move of marking products."
Lapid, whose party Yesh Atid is in the opposition, criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the prime minister "does not give us the tools to win. He just dismantled the Foreign Ministry and divided it between six ministers."
The Knesset held a special session Wednesday about the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel after the UK's National Union of Students voted in favor of joining the movement.
"This is anti-Semitism under new guise with the same symptoms," said Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked. Shaked's speech was accompanied by a lot of vocal comments from the other MKs. "There is a de-legitimization campaign against Israel happening right now. These are ephemeral organizations and we need to stop cooperating with them and cut ties, have them pay for their boycotts," Shaked said.
She then turned to members of the opposition saying, "Open your eyes and ears. In 2012, the UN General Assembly approved 22 resolutions against Israel compared to four against the rest of the world countries. This is a campaign of lies and threats and you (Meretz MKs) were standing at the podium reading quotes from Breaking the Silence, an organization which is slandering Israel and damaging it."
"Today, it's 'super in' to be anti-Israel," she continued. "If someone thinks withdrawals will help, they are wrong. The biggest diplomatic attacks against the State of Israel were all done because of Israel's operations in Gaza, from which we withdrew until the last centimeter. Are we also occupiers in the Negev? Israel's boycotts seek to erase the State of Israel, not divide it."
Minister Ofir Akunis took the podium next, aiming his attack at Meretz Chairwoman Zehava Galon. "The most contemptible acts in human history started with boycotts against the Jews," he said.
Galon responded with, "You think you can stand there and preach us and we will remain quiet? Come to 2015 already." "We cannot bear this victimization policy of yours, Ministers Shaked and Akunis," Galon said. "Calm down, because those who work in the service of this boycott are members of the Netanyahu government.
They are those who impose separation on buses and release videos of Arabs 'going in droves' (to the polls) and claims Arabs are playing games. You will have to decide: Either settlements or international legitimacy."
Meretz MK Michal Rozin, meanwhile, called on the Israeli government to take responsibility for Israel's part in the worsening of the international boycott.
"The way to deal with the increasing boycotting against Israel is not hasbara (diplomatic relations), but in putting an end to the occupation," she said. "The government must internalize that the boycott is a wakeup call and not anti-Semitic propaganda against the state."
"As long as we continue to 'manage the conflict' and avoid diplomatic negotiations, the world will continue taking measures against us," she added. Meanwhile, former finance minister Yair Lapid told Ynet on Wednesday morning that the European initiative to mark settlement products could lead to a boycott of all products from Israel and dramatically hurt the Israeli economy.
"The European consumer in Belgium or London is told 'you can't buy products because they're from the settlements.' Does he know where the settlements are? No, he knows where Israel is. So he is now no longer buying Israeli products and telling the supermarket owner, 'don't bring products from Israel because I'm not going to check now if it is from Ma'ale Adumim or Ra'anana.' How can he tell the difference?
It could de-facto create a boycott on Israel in all kinds of places. This is damaging to more than 30 percent of Israeli exports," he said. He warned that even the EU's foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, "who is a friend of Israel and truly hates Hamas and radical Islam," according to Lapid, "has already announced they are planning a move of marking products."
Lapid, whose party Yesh Atid is in the opposition, criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the prime minister "does not give us the tools to win. He just dismantled the Foreign Ministry and divided it between six ministers."
2 june 2015
BDS demonstration in Melbourne, Australia, 2010
National Union of Students adopts motion condemning Israel's military presence in the West Bank and Gaza, and ops to join academic boycott campaign against Israel.
The UK's National Union of Students (NUS), which represents millions of students at British higher education institutes, decided Tuesday to join the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Movement against Israel.
Motion 518, "Justice for Palestine," passed with a majority of 19 votes in favor, with 12 votes against and three abstentions.
It was proposed by Canterbury Christ Church Students’ Union. The motion passed by the union's National Executive Council condemns Israel's military presence in the West Bank and Gaza, and mandates the student body to "coordinate a nationwide student day of action to commemorate UN Palestine solidarity Day on 29 November."
An amendment supporting the BDS movement was proposed by the School of Oriental and African Studies. This too passed, with 19 voting in favor, 14 against and three abstained.
Both motion and amendment passed under a secret ballot.
The Foreign Ministry dismissed the decision, saying it "decision without any real implications made by a body which has already expressed anti-Israel opinions in the past."
"Instead of expressing hatred towards Israel, the British students should invest some time in history lessons and realize the distance between verbal hatred and prejudice to heinous crimes is not that big," the ministry said in a statement.
The motion accuses the IDF of "directly attacking the right to education in Gaza," noting that "UN schools and the Islamic University of Gaza were amongst the infrastructure Israel targeted during its assault on Gaza."
Israel's blockade of Gaza, the motion claims, has led to limited supply of "basic educational equipment including books, paper, computers, stationary and desks" to the Strip.
"The siege traps 1.7m people in a tiny strip of land with severely limited access to basic supplies such as food, safe water and medicine," the motion adds.
The motion also condemns the British government, saying it is complicit in Israel's actions by "supplying Israel with weaponry used against the Palestinians during last summer's Operation Protective Edge... The UK government is directly arming Israel with £180m worth of weapons sold in the period 2008-2012, including F16 fighter jet components, assault rifles, armoured vehicles and ammunition."
Britain's Union of Jewish Students (UJS) slammed the decision, saying the motion "divides student groups, undermines interfaith relations and suffocates progressive voices for peace on both sides."
"It is disturbing that supposed representatives of students throughout the UK have joined a movement that at the core is not progressive or constructive in supporting two states for two peoples," the UJS added.
UJS also note that despite claims made by the BDS movement that it does not target individuals, "Israeli individuals and academics have been blocked from delivering lectures on nothing to do with Israel or Palestine. Just look at Durban University of Technology, where they called for the expulsion of Jewish students 'especially those who do not support the Palestinian struggle.'"
Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman called said the decision was hypocritical "and gives in to the diktats of radical Islam."
"I would expect students with intellectual integrity to act first and foremost against John the Jihadist and the rest of the British citizens fighting with ISIS and those who continue recruit young Brits to terror organizations on British soil. Israel is a more democratic and more enlightened country than all of those hypocritical students," Lieberman said.
University presidents against academic boycott
Israeli university presidents recently met with President Reuven Rivlin to tell him that the boycott of Israel's academic institutions is no longer just their problem - it's an issue that threatens the future of the country.
"We must put this issue at the top of the agenda because if Israeli academia finds itself boycotted, it will be a scientific and economic disaster," they told the president. "We are at 5 minutes to midnight, but we can stop this snow ball."
The group of academic leaders presented the president with a less than optimistic situation report, claiming that Israeli researchers
are being refused promotions, periodicals refuse to publish articles from Israeli scientists, lecturers are choosing not to come to conferences in Israel and international companies refuse to work with Israeli researchers. All of that is done on top of protests at campuses across the world and the pressure put by international student unions to boycott Israeli academia.
National Union of Students adopts motion condemning Israel's military presence in the West Bank and Gaza, and ops to join academic boycott campaign against Israel.
The UK's National Union of Students (NUS), which represents millions of students at British higher education institutes, decided Tuesday to join the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Movement against Israel.
Motion 518, "Justice for Palestine," passed with a majority of 19 votes in favor, with 12 votes against and three abstentions.
It was proposed by Canterbury Christ Church Students’ Union. The motion passed by the union's National Executive Council condemns Israel's military presence in the West Bank and Gaza, and mandates the student body to "coordinate a nationwide student day of action to commemorate UN Palestine solidarity Day on 29 November."
An amendment supporting the BDS movement was proposed by the School of Oriental and African Studies. This too passed, with 19 voting in favor, 14 against and three abstained.
Both motion and amendment passed under a secret ballot.
The Foreign Ministry dismissed the decision, saying it "decision without any real implications made by a body which has already expressed anti-Israel opinions in the past."
"Instead of expressing hatred towards Israel, the British students should invest some time in history lessons and realize the distance between verbal hatred and prejudice to heinous crimes is not that big," the ministry said in a statement.
The motion accuses the IDF of "directly attacking the right to education in Gaza," noting that "UN schools and the Islamic University of Gaza were amongst the infrastructure Israel targeted during its assault on Gaza."
Israel's blockade of Gaza, the motion claims, has led to limited supply of "basic educational equipment including books, paper, computers, stationary and desks" to the Strip.
"The siege traps 1.7m people in a tiny strip of land with severely limited access to basic supplies such as food, safe water and medicine," the motion adds.
The motion also condemns the British government, saying it is complicit in Israel's actions by "supplying Israel with weaponry used against the Palestinians during last summer's Operation Protective Edge... The UK government is directly arming Israel with £180m worth of weapons sold in the period 2008-2012, including F16 fighter jet components, assault rifles, armoured vehicles and ammunition."
Britain's Union of Jewish Students (UJS) slammed the decision, saying the motion "divides student groups, undermines interfaith relations and suffocates progressive voices for peace on both sides."
"It is disturbing that supposed representatives of students throughout the UK have joined a movement that at the core is not progressive or constructive in supporting two states for two peoples," the UJS added.
UJS also note that despite claims made by the BDS movement that it does not target individuals, "Israeli individuals and academics have been blocked from delivering lectures on nothing to do with Israel or Palestine. Just look at Durban University of Technology, where they called for the expulsion of Jewish students 'especially those who do not support the Palestinian struggle.'"
Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman called said the decision was hypocritical "and gives in to the diktats of radical Islam."
"I would expect students with intellectual integrity to act first and foremost against John the Jihadist and the rest of the British citizens fighting with ISIS and those who continue recruit young Brits to terror organizations on British soil. Israel is a more democratic and more enlightened country than all of those hypocritical students," Lieberman said.
University presidents against academic boycott
Israeli university presidents recently met with President Reuven Rivlin to tell him that the boycott of Israel's academic institutions is no longer just their problem - it's an issue that threatens the future of the country.
"We must put this issue at the top of the agenda because if Israeli academia finds itself boycotted, it will be a scientific and economic disaster," they told the president. "We are at 5 minutes to midnight, but we can stop this snow ball."
The group of academic leaders presented the president with a less than optimistic situation report, claiming that Israeli researchers
are being refused promotions, periodicals refuse to publish articles from Israeli scientists, lecturers are choosing not to come to conferences in Israel and international companies refuse to work with Israeli researchers. All of that is done on top of protests at campuses across the world and the pressure put by international student unions to boycott Israeli academia.
1 june 2015
Netanyahu says international community disproportionately singles Israel out and boycott campaign aims to to delegitimize Jewish state's existence, regardless of policies.
Israel faces an "international campaign to blacken its name" aimed at delegitimizing its very existence regardless to its policies, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday.
The international community disproportionally singles out the Jewish state for condemnation while remaining silent on major conflicts and human rights abuses in other countries, he said.
Netanyahu made the comments Sunday at a meeting of his new Cabinet just days after a Palestinian proposal to suspend Israel from world football was dropped at the last moment.
Netanyahu warned that although attempts by the Palestinians to suspend Israel from the international soccer arena this weekend were rebuffed, efforts to boycott Israel continue.
Palestinians accelerated their campaign to boycott Israel and Israeli-made products after peace talks collapsed last year.
"We are in the midst of a great struggle being waged against the state of Israel, an international campaign to blacken its name.
"It is not connected to our actions; it is connected to our very existence. It does not matter what we do; it matters what we symbolize and what we are," Netanyahu said.
"I think that it is important to understand that these things do not stem from the fact that if only we were nicer or a little more generous -- we are very generous, we have made many offers, we have made many concessions -- that anything would change because this campaign to delegitimize Israel entails something much deeper that is being directed at us and seeks to deny our very right to live here," he said.
The Israeli prime minister said the Palestinian boycott is reminiscent of similar attacks the Jewish people faced in the past.
"Now, this is a phenomenon that we have known in the history of our people. What hasn't been said about the Jewish people? They said that we are the focus of all evil in the world. All of these things are being said about us today as well. It was not true then and it is not true today. This does not have a shred of truth," he said.
Netanyahu said that he was pleased the Palestinian attempt to have Israel suspended from FIFA was rebuffed in the end, but warned that Israel will face similar boycott efforts in the future.
Palestinians had pushed to get Israel banned because they said Israeli security restrictions limited the movement of Palestinian players, visiting teams and soccer equipment.
Israel accused the Palestinians of politicizing sports and insisted its security concerns are valid, especially regarding movement in and out of the Gaza Strip -- which is ruled by the Islamic militant group Hamas.
"We are not a perfect country; we do not pretend to be such, but they are setting standards for us that are both twisted and higher than those for any other country, any other democracy," he said.
Israel faces an "international campaign to blacken its name" aimed at delegitimizing its very existence regardless to its policies, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday.
The international community disproportionally singles out the Jewish state for condemnation while remaining silent on major conflicts and human rights abuses in other countries, he said.
Netanyahu made the comments Sunday at a meeting of his new Cabinet just days after a Palestinian proposal to suspend Israel from world football was dropped at the last moment.
Netanyahu warned that although attempts by the Palestinians to suspend Israel from the international soccer arena this weekend were rebuffed, efforts to boycott Israel continue.
Palestinians accelerated their campaign to boycott Israel and Israeli-made products after peace talks collapsed last year.
"We are in the midst of a great struggle being waged against the state of Israel, an international campaign to blacken its name.
"It is not connected to our actions; it is connected to our very existence. It does not matter what we do; it matters what we symbolize and what we are," Netanyahu said.
"I think that it is important to understand that these things do not stem from the fact that if only we were nicer or a little more generous -- we are very generous, we have made many offers, we have made many concessions -- that anything would change because this campaign to delegitimize Israel entails something much deeper that is being directed at us and seeks to deny our very right to live here," he said.
The Israeli prime minister said the Palestinian boycott is reminiscent of similar attacks the Jewish people faced in the past.
"Now, this is a phenomenon that we have known in the history of our people. What hasn't been said about the Jewish people? They said that we are the focus of all evil in the world. All of these things are being said about us today as well. It was not true then and it is not true today. This does not have a shred of truth," he said.
Netanyahu said that he was pleased the Palestinian attempt to have Israel suspended from FIFA was rebuffed in the end, but warned that Israel will face similar boycott efforts in the future.
Palestinians had pushed to get Israel banned because they said Israeli security restrictions limited the movement of Palestinian players, visiting teams and soccer equipment.
Israel accused the Palestinians of politicizing sports and insisted its security concerns are valid, especially regarding movement in and out of the Gaza Strip -- which is ruled by the Islamic militant group Hamas.
"We are not a perfect country; we do not pretend to be such, but they are setting standards for us that are both twisted and higher than those for any other country, any other democracy," he said.
31 may 2015
A group of Palestinian activists launched a campaign to expel Jibril Rajoub from his position as Chairman of the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) for dropping his demand to suspend Israel from the Federation International de Football Association (FIFA) on Friday.
Rajoub’s last-minute announcement came as a surprise to many Palestinians, especially in the wake of his repeated statements that nothing would stop him from pursuing his anti-Israel bid.
Rajoub’s critics took to social media to strongly condemn his decision and call for his dismissal from his position. The Palestinian activists called on everybody to sign a petition demanding the firing of Rajoub.
Some Palestinian activists expressed deep concern that Rajoub’s decision would hinder efforts to promote boycotts against Israel in the international community. Other activists also launched an online campaign entitled, “Red Card for Jibril Rajoub”.
They promised, in a letter addressed to Palestinians, to sign the petition to raise a big red card for Rajoub to be put in front of his office in Ramallah for his “surprise and uncalculated” decision.
“This decision has caused enormous damage to the Palestinian cause and sports. The Palestinian people need serious leaders who are capable of achieving the right to self-determination,” the petition read.
Rajoub dropped a Palestinian Authority PA’s demand, supported by a large number of states and solidarity figures, to suspend Israel from the Federation International de Football Association (FIFA) on Friday, which provoked great outrage at the local, regional and International levels.
Rajoub’s last-minute announcement came as a surprise to many Palestinians, especially in the wake of his repeated statements that nothing would stop him from pursuing his anti-Israel bid.
Rajoub’s critics took to social media to strongly condemn his decision and call for his dismissal from his position. The Palestinian activists called on everybody to sign a petition demanding the firing of Rajoub.
Some Palestinian activists expressed deep concern that Rajoub’s decision would hinder efforts to promote boycotts against Israel in the international community. Other activists also launched an online campaign entitled, “Red Card for Jibril Rajoub”.
They promised, in a letter addressed to Palestinians, to sign the petition to raise a big red card for Rajoub to be put in front of his office in Ramallah for his “surprise and uncalculated” decision.
“This decision has caused enormous damage to the Palestinian cause and sports. The Palestinian people need serious leaders who are capable of achieving the right to self-determination,” the petition read.
Rajoub dropped a Palestinian Authority PA’s demand, supported by a large number of states and solidarity figures, to suspend Israel from the Federation International de Football Association (FIFA) on Friday, which provoked great outrage at the local, regional and International levels.
30 may 2015
Hamas Spokesman, Husam Badran denounced on Friday the Palestinian Authority's (PA) dropping the of bid calling to suspend Israel from FIFA membership, Palestine newspaper reported. Badran said that such a move completely contradicts the general Palestinian demand to end the all forms of cooperation and coordination with the Israeli occupation.
Just hours before the meeting of the FIFA members in Zurich, the head of the Palestinian Football Association, senior Fatah and PA official, Jibril Al-Rajoub dropped the bid seeking suspension of Israeli from the FIFA.
"This kind of retreat in the sport field makes the Palestinians distrust the pledges of the PA regarding the prosecution of the Israeli occupation in the international courts, as well as the continuous warning that it would suspend military cooperation," Badran said.
Just hours before the meeting of the FIFA members in Zurich, the head of the Palestinian Football Association, senior Fatah and PA official, Jibril Al-Rajoub dropped the bid seeking suspension of Israeli from the FIFA.
"This kind of retreat in the sport field makes the Palestinians distrust the pledges of the PA regarding the prosecution of the Israeli occupation in the international courts, as well as the continuous warning that it would suspend military cooperation," Badran said.
A Palestinian, European and international wave of outrage erupted yesterday as soon as the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) had dropped its bid to suspend Israel from FIFA, Quds Press reported. PFA chief General Jibril Rajoub, a senior Fatah and PA official, withdrew the bid hours before the congress of FIFA members in Zurich. It is widely believed that the bid would have been successful.
In response to this measure, popular campaigns on social media were launched, calling for Israel's expulsion from FIFA because of its racist policies.
One of the social media campaigns, which collected signatures through Avvaz, collected over 50,000 signatures within a few hours.
Two demonstrations which called for Israel's expulsion managed to reach the meeting hall of the FIFA members in Zurich. They demanded a ban of Israeli teams from football stadia all over the world.
One activist, Wisam Abul-Haijaa, commenting over the measures on Facebook wrote: "We have to tell the Palestinians frankly that Al-Rajoub's step was a blow to all the popular efforts made to isolate Israel."
He added poignantly that: "The real representatives for Palestine are those who continue putting pressure on the Israeli occupation aiming to isolate it, not those who throw the lifeboat for it."
In response to this measure, popular campaigns on social media were launched, calling for Israel's expulsion from FIFA because of its racist policies.
One of the social media campaigns, which collected signatures through Avvaz, collected over 50,000 signatures within a few hours.
Two demonstrations which called for Israel's expulsion managed to reach the meeting hall of the FIFA members in Zurich. They demanded a ban of Israeli teams from football stadia all over the world.
One activist, Wisam Abul-Haijaa, commenting over the measures on Facebook wrote: "We have to tell the Palestinians frankly that Al-Rajoub's step was a blow to all the popular efforts made to isolate Israel."
He added poignantly that: "The real representatives for Palestine are those who continue putting pressure on the Israeli occupation aiming to isolate it, not those who throw the lifeboat for it."
PFA chairman Jibril Rajoub shakes IFA chairman Ofer Eini's hand in Zurich
After Palestinians withdraw proposal to ban Israel from FIFA, Foreign Ministry and sports officials warn Israel's deterrence is eroding, saying attempts to de-legitimize Israel will continue in other fields.
While the fight over the Palestinian attempt to suspend Israel from FIFA has ended on Friday in Zurich, Israeli diplomats warn that the next battle is near – the Olympics.
"Rajoub has three roles - he's the head of the football association, the minister of sports and the chairman of the Palestinian Olympic Committee," a Foreign Ministry official said. "The Olympics are in a year. Today it started with soccer, tomorrow it could be volleyball, handball or basketball," the official continued. "We have to stay on our toes and realize there is now a political dimension to Israeli sports."
Another lesson learned from the FIFA debacle, he said, "is the fact many organizations in Israel, which are a part of international organizations, will have to invest a lot more efforts in lobbying and foreign relations. They have to prepare for similar battles in the near future. It won't end with FIFA."
"My conclusion is that Israel must be diplomatically prepared to deal with fields and areas we have not had cause to deal with in the past, because the Palestinians are taking this issue of de-legitimizing Israel to new arenas and places - to science, sports, culture, arts, and others," said Yuval Rotem, the head of the Foreign Ministry's Public Diplomacy Division who led the effort to thwart the Palestinian move to suspend Israel from FIFA.
Rotem's people coordinated the work of Israel's embassies over the past two months, with full cooperation from the Prime Minister's Office and The Israel Football Association (IFA). The lion's share of the diplomatic activity on Friday was in Zurich, where IFA chairman Ofer Eini met with FIFA President Sepp Blatter and Palestinian Football Association chairman Jibril Rajoub in an attempt to convince Rajoub to withdraw his proposal from the FIFA Congress' agenda.
Rajoub did so only after taking the stage and making a fiery speech against Israel. As a result, the Congress did not vote on suspending Israel but instead on the formation of an inspections committee to deal with the Palestinian complaints, which passed with 165 voting in favor and 18 against.
Rotem said these were "the new diplomatic battles." He asserted that "this battle is no longer in the places we know, like the UN, but at the halls of municipalities all over the world seeking to boycott Israel, at cultural institutions, at basketball courts, at workers unions, at supermarkets, and more. These are new fronts and we'll have to find new tools to fight there."
Foreign Ministry officials said the Palestinian failure at FIFA helps bolster Israeli deterrence. The Palestinians, they said, have once again seen that at the moment of truth, when Israel is being dragged to a confrontation on a topic important to it like the demand to suspend it from FIFA - it knows how to create the international alliances to thwart such a move, even in cases the Palestinians appear at first to have the majority.
This deterrence, the officials said, carries a heavy price: It erodes Israel's standing in the world, forcing it to spend too much diplomatic credit and putting Israel in a situation in which it has to beg for the help of its friends in the world. IFA chairman Ofer Eini told Ynet at the end of Friday's dramatic FIFA Congress session that his conciliatory speech has garnered a lot of support from the different delegations and that many of the delegations' heads told him he delivered a "knockout" to Rajoub.
He noted the decision to leave the issue of the five soccer clubs operating beyond the Green Line in FIFA's hands rather than give it to the UN was another Israeli achievement. The compromise on the matter was reached in his meeting with Blatter and Rajoub shortly before the vote. "I'm glad our proposal to have all pending issues remain in FIFA's hands and not go elsewhere has gone to a vote and won with a resounding majority," Eini said. "I kept saying politics must not be mixed with sports.
Sports can be a bridge to peace and I mean this. I didn't have a problem shaking Rajoub's hand. The right thing for Israeli soccer is to work in full cooperation with our neighbors. I'm glad we came out with the upper hand." Israeli officials also praised Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) President Michel Platini, who they said should receive the Israel Prize for his help in securing Israel's diplomatic victory at FIFA.
Yaakov Finkelstein, an Israeli diplomat from the Foreign Ministry's team in Zurich, said the result at the FIFA Congress "was more of an achievement to Israel than the Palestinians. The Palestinians scored an own goal by putting too much pressure on suspending Israel from FIFA and eventually when they realized that they do not have the necessary majority, they decided to back off."
He asserted the Palestinians "did not get any of their demands and decided to turn the entire thing to an internal committee in FIFA with representatives from Israel and the PA." Finkelstein said the Foreign Ministry led an "immense" lobbying effort with the help of Israel's embassies and in cooperation with FIFA to convince the different delegations that the Palestinian proposal would cause damage to FIFA.
"Now the ball is in the Palestinians' court. Eini reached out and now the Palestinians need to not only respond, but work in cooperation with the committee FIFA forms. There were such mechanisms in place in the past but they did not cooperate. They did not want to sign an understandings memo regarding free passage of athletes."
Hamas, meanwhile, were unhappy with the results. Hamas Spokesman Husam Badran condemned the Palestinian Authority's decision to withdraw their proposal to suspend Israel from FIFA, saying it was against the will of the Palestinian people.
"After this backtracking, how can the Palestinians count on the PA's promise to put Israel on trial at the ICC or stop security cooperation (with Israel)?" Badran said.
Rajoub's decision to withdraw the proposal made headlines in most Palestinian news sites, mostly those affiliated with Hamas. Only the official Palestinian Authority news agency Wafa tried to do damage control with a headline placing the emphasis on the resounding support to the formation of the FIFA committee. The Wafa report itself made no mention of the Palestinians backing out of their proposal to suspend Israel.
After Palestinians withdraw proposal to ban Israel from FIFA, Foreign Ministry and sports officials warn Israel's deterrence is eroding, saying attempts to de-legitimize Israel will continue in other fields.
While the fight over the Palestinian attempt to suspend Israel from FIFA has ended on Friday in Zurich, Israeli diplomats warn that the next battle is near – the Olympics.
"Rajoub has three roles - he's the head of the football association, the minister of sports and the chairman of the Palestinian Olympic Committee," a Foreign Ministry official said. "The Olympics are in a year. Today it started with soccer, tomorrow it could be volleyball, handball or basketball," the official continued. "We have to stay on our toes and realize there is now a political dimension to Israeli sports."
Another lesson learned from the FIFA debacle, he said, "is the fact many organizations in Israel, which are a part of international organizations, will have to invest a lot more efforts in lobbying and foreign relations. They have to prepare for similar battles in the near future. It won't end with FIFA."
"My conclusion is that Israel must be diplomatically prepared to deal with fields and areas we have not had cause to deal with in the past, because the Palestinians are taking this issue of de-legitimizing Israel to new arenas and places - to science, sports, culture, arts, and others," said Yuval Rotem, the head of the Foreign Ministry's Public Diplomacy Division who led the effort to thwart the Palestinian move to suspend Israel from FIFA.
Rotem's people coordinated the work of Israel's embassies over the past two months, with full cooperation from the Prime Minister's Office and The Israel Football Association (IFA). The lion's share of the diplomatic activity on Friday was in Zurich, where IFA chairman Ofer Eini met with FIFA President Sepp Blatter and Palestinian Football Association chairman Jibril Rajoub in an attempt to convince Rajoub to withdraw his proposal from the FIFA Congress' agenda.
Rajoub did so only after taking the stage and making a fiery speech against Israel. As a result, the Congress did not vote on suspending Israel but instead on the formation of an inspections committee to deal with the Palestinian complaints, which passed with 165 voting in favor and 18 against.
Rotem said these were "the new diplomatic battles." He asserted that "this battle is no longer in the places we know, like the UN, but at the halls of municipalities all over the world seeking to boycott Israel, at cultural institutions, at basketball courts, at workers unions, at supermarkets, and more. These are new fronts and we'll have to find new tools to fight there."
Foreign Ministry officials said the Palestinian failure at FIFA helps bolster Israeli deterrence. The Palestinians, they said, have once again seen that at the moment of truth, when Israel is being dragged to a confrontation on a topic important to it like the demand to suspend it from FIFA - it knows how to create the international alliances to thwart such a move, even in cases the Palestinians appear at first to have the majority.
This deterrence, the officials said, carries a heavy price: It erodes Israel's standing in the world, forcing it to spend too much diplomatic credit and putting Israel in a situation in which it has to beg for the help of its friends in the world. IFA chairman Ofer Eini told Ynet at the end of Friday's dramatic FIFA Congress session that his conciliatory speech has garnered a lot of support from the different delegations and that many of the delegations' heads told him he delivered a "knockout" to Rajoub.
He noted the decision to leave the issue of the five soccer clubs operating beyond the Green Line in FIFA's hands rather than give it to the UN was another Israeli achievement. The compromise on the matter was reached in his meeting with Blatter and Rajoub shortly before the vote. "I'm glad our proposal to have all pending issues remain in FIFA's hands and not go elsewhere has gone to a vote and won with a resounding majority," Eini said. "I kept saying politics must not be mixed with sports.
Sports can be a bridge to peace and I mean this. I didn't have a problem shaking Rajoub's hand. The right thing for Israeli soccer is to work in full cooperation with our neighbors. I'm glad we came out with the upper hand." Israeli officials also praised Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) President Michel Platini, who they said should receive the Israel Prize for his help in securing Israel's diplomatic victory at FIFA.
Yaakov Finkelstein, an Israeli diplomat from the Foreign Ministry's team in Zurich, said the result at the FIFA Congress "was more of an achievement to Israel than the Palestinians. The Palestinians scored an own goal by putting too much pressure on suspending Israel from FIFA and eventually when they realized that they do not have the necessary majority, they decided to back off."
He asserted the Palestinians "did not get any of their demands and decided to turn the entire thing to an internal committee in FIFA with representatives from Israel and the PA." Finkelstein said the Foreign Ministry led an "immense" lobbying effort with the help of Israel's embassies and in cooperation with FIFA to convince the different delegations that the Palestinian proposal would cause damage to FIFA.
"Now the ball is in the Palestinians' court. Eini reached out and now the Palestinians need to not only respond, but work in cooperation with the committee FIFA forms. There were such mechanisms in place in the past but they did not cooperate. They did not want to sign an understandings memo regarding free passage of athletes."
Hamas, meanwhile, were unhappy with the results. Hamas Spokesman Husam Badran condemned the Palestinian Authority's decision to withdraw their proposal to suspend Israel from FIFA, saying it was against the will of the Palestinian people.
"After this backtracking, how can the Palestinians count on the PA's promise to put Israel on trial at the ICC or stop security cooperation (with Israel)?" Badran said.
Rajoub's decision to withdraw the proposal made headlines in most Palestinian news sites, mostly those affiliated with Hamas. Only the official Palestinian Authority news agency Wafa tried to do damage control with a headline placing the emphasis on the resounding support to the formation of the FIFA committee. The Wafa report itself made no mention of the Palestinians backing out of their proposal to suspend Israel.
Hamas movement has strongly denounced in a statement issued Friday the Palestinian Authority's last minute decision to drop a bid to exclude Israel’s membership from FIFA.
"The PA's actions stand in stark contrast to the demands of the Palestinian people, who continue to resist the Israeli occupation and reject any form of cooperation with them," Hamas’ spokesperson Houssam Badran said.
Hamas' statement came after the Palestinian Football Association head Jibril Rajoub announced, at FIFA's annual congress in Zurich, that his country was dropping its bid to have Israel's FIFA membership suspended.
"How come our people could trust the PA’s promises to prosecute the Israeli leaders in the ICC, or even its threats to stop security coordination with the occupation?" Badran added.
The PA's decision to withdraw its calls for suspending Israel's FIFA membership sparked mass rejection and protest among Palestinian and Foreign activists who organized large marches and online campaigns to push forward for the Friday's planned bid to suspend Israel from FIFA.
"The PA's actions stand in stark contrast to the demands of the Palestinian people, who continue to resist the Israeli occupation and reject any form of cooperation with them," Hamas’ spokesperson Houssam Badran said.
Hamas' statement came after the Palestinian Football Association head Jibril Rajoub announced, at FIFA's annual congress in Zurich, that his country was dropping its bid to have Israel's FIFA membership suspended.
"How come our people could trust the PA’s promises to prosecute the Israeli leaders in the ICC, or even its threats to stop security coordination with the occupation?" Badran added.
The PA's decision to withdraw its calls for suspending Israel's FIFA membership sparked mass rejection and protest among Palestinian and Foreign activists who organized large marches and online campaigns to push forward for the Friday's planned bid to suspend Israel from FIFA.
The Euro-Mediterranean human rights monitor has deplored the Palestinian Authority for withdrawing its request to have Israel suspended from the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA).
The Geneva-based human rights group stated on Friday that the Palestinian request came in the first place as a result of Israel's violation of the legal rules governing the work of FIFA and the football ethics, especially during the last war on Gaza when its army deliberately killed Palestinian athletes and bombed sports centers.
The monitor expressed its deep regret and dismay over the Palestinian step and said it would give Israel another opportunity to persistently commit violations against the Palestinians with impunity.
The Geneva-based human rights group stated on Friday that the Palestinian request came in the first place as a result of Israel's violation of the legal rules governing the work of FIFA and the football ethics, especially during the last war on Gaza when its army deliberately killed Palestinian athletes and bombed sports centers.
The monitor expressed its deep regret and dismay over the Palestinian step and said it would give Israel another opportunity to persistently commit violations against the Palestinians with impunity.