Eve of Euro 2013: Film of Palestinian Football
With Euro 2013 opening in Israel tomorrow Philosophy Football has spent the weekend in Palestine making a film about football there.
In the autumn of 2011 Philosophy Football met Honey Thalijeh, then captain of the Palestine Women’s Football team. Inspired by what she told us about what football meant to her country we promised that when Euro 2013 opened in Israel we would be in Palestine.
From 5-18 June Israel hosts the second biggest international team tournament in European football, the Euro 2013 Under 21’s Championship. Its the biggest international sporting event ever held in Israel. And England have a decent chance of winning.
But on the other side of the wall Israel built football is played and watched in Palestine under the most abnormal of conditions. Massive restrictions of movement, 24 hour surveillance and illegal settlements and land grabs, yet on the football pitch, as recognised by FIFA, Palestine plays football as a nation.
Throughout the tournament Israel will do everything it can to keep attention away from football on the Palestinian side of the wall. Our film, shot over the pat few days will help to break this silence. On Tuesday it was premiered in Ramallah at the HQ of the Palestine Olympic Association and simultaneously released on YouTube.
3 comments
3 responses to “Eve of Euro 2013: Film of Palestinian Football”
Left Unity is active in movements and campaigns across the left, working to create an alternative to the main political parties.
About Left Unity
Read our manifesto
Left Unity is a member of the European Left Party. 
Read the European Left Manifesto
ACTIVIST CALENDAR
Events and protests from around the movement, and local Left Unity meetings.
Saturday 21st June: End the Genocide – national march for Palestine
Join us to tell the government to end the genocide; stop arming Israel; and stop starving Gaza!
More details here
Summer University, 11-13 July, in Paris
Peace, planet, people: our common struggle
The EL’s annual summer university is taking place in Paris.
More events »
GET UPDATES
Sign up to the Left Unity email newsletter.
CAMPAIGNING MATERIALS
Get the latest Left Unity resources.
A great film! It brings both tears to your eyes at the injustice and racism they suffer… and joy at their spirit of resistance and their ‘just get on with it’ attitude.
And why, in a year or two, couldn’t the new political party we are trying to build organise a series of friendly matches across ‘the birthplace of football’ for a visiting Palestinian team….and actually I would favour inviting a women’s team.
Great post. Thanks.
For those who want to take an active part in protesting the decision to hold the under-21 European cup in Israel see http://www.rcir.org.uk . Stars such as Kanoute and Eric Cantona have already added their names to the protest.
Mahmoud Sarsak, a Palestine national team player was recently held in prison for THREE YEARS without charge. He was released only after a long hunger-strike. And this is the country which wants to be rewarded with the finals. Mahmoud Sarsak is currently in the UK on a speaking tour. Find details on the website mentioned above.
Views of the fim have now topped 1100 which for a small outfit is quite something.
Do spread the link via twitter, fb, blogs please > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSgqErDOAwI
On 17 June a Palestine Football Supporters Club T-shirt will be presented to Mahmoud Sarsak at a specially convened meeting in London.
Creating a connection with Palestine via football has all the possibilities of reavhing an audience largely untouched by the various solidarity campaigns. We are prpud to be doing our bit.
Mark P