The Palestinians on Friday dropped a motion to have Israel suspended from the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), world soccer’s governing body, during the 65th FIFA Congress in Switzerland.
“I decided to drop the suspension but it does not mean that I give up the resistance,” Palestinian soccer official Jibril Rajoub said in an address to the FIFA gathering.
A new Palestinian proposal that was passed by the FIFA Congress calls for the formation of a committee to look into the freedom of movement of Palestinian soccer players, alleged Israeli “racism,” and the status of Israeli soccer teams located in Judea and Samaria.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the efforts of Israel’s delegation at the FIFA Congress, saying, “Our international effort has proven itself and led to the failure of the Palestinian Authority attempt to oust us from FIFA.”
Netanyahu added that continued unilateral steps by the Palestinians in international bodies will “only push peace further away instead of bringing it closer.”
Earlier in the day, pro-Palestinian protesters were ejected from the FIFA Congress after storming the meeting room waving Palestinian flags.
JNS.ORG
{Matzav.com}
