Palestinian Football Association will not withdraw request to suspend Israel

ZURICH (Reuters) – The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) will not abandon its proposal to vote at the FIFA congress on suspending Israel from international football but will continue dialogue, its president Jibril Rajoub told Reuters on Sunday. Rajoub met with his Israeli counterpart Ofer Eini and FIFA President Sepp Blatter at the football association’s headquarters in the latest attempt to end the standoff between the two sides. The PFA accuses Israel of hindering its activities and restricting players’ movement between the Gaza Strip and the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Israel justifies the imposed restrictions on security concerns. “Both member associations have agreed to continue dialogue,” FIFA said in a statement. “(FIFA President Blatter) confirmed that he will travel to Israel and Palestine before the FIFA Congress to meet the respective FA presidents and heads of state.” For the Palestinian proposal to be adopted, it needs the approval of 75 percent of FIFA’s 209 member associations at the annual congress in Zurich on May 29. In addition to the movement restrictions, the PFA has also cited issues related to the restrictions imposed by Israel on the import of sports equipment into the Palestinian territories and on visits by foreign teams and individuals. FIFA has been trying to find a solution to the Palestinian complaints for more than two years. “The proposal (Israel’s suspension) will remain on the agenda,” Rajoub said in a telephone interview. “Dialogue is not a solution, the solution is that the Israelis must come and recognize our rights to develop football in accordance with FIFA’s statutes. “We have told the Israel Football Association that they have enough time to come to Congress with a proposal to end our suffering. We recognize their association and the right of their footballers to enjoy football and we want to enjoy the same rights. “I want to end the suffering of Palestinian football rather than inflict suffering on others,” he said. “I do not wish the suffering of Palestinian footballers on anyone, including Israel. I shook their (the Israeli delegation’s) hand, they are my neighbors,” Rajoub added. “But I wish they would join me in fighting against discrimination.” If FIFA were to suspend Israel, it would ban all its teams and clubs from participating in international competitions such as the Champions League and Euro 2016 qualifiers. Israel is a member of UEFA and Palestine is part of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). (Written by Brian Homewood in Bern; edited by Toby Davis)