Action Alert: Britain Denies U19 Palestinians into the UK

Action Alert: Britain Denies U19 Palestinians into the UK

The latest from the PSC site: 

Many organisations spent weeks and months planning to host the
Palestinian Under 19 football team in a 3 week visit to the UK in
September. This visit is no longer going to take place as the
British Consulate in Jerusalem has refused to grant visas to the
entire team and coaches.

The British Government, in a decision apparently taken at a senior
level, have refused entry visas to the entire team. Although they
will not provide reasons in writing, they say the decision was taken
because the economic situation in Gaza, where the majority of the
team are based, is so bad that they do not believe that the
Palestinians will return home again. They deny taking the decision
for any politically motivated reason, although they did say at one
point that it was because the Israelis would not allow them to
return - and so would create a refugee issue, but they have since
denied this.

The team posed no threat and the tour was intended to provide
support to a team of boys and young men who would have no other
opportunity to play in real football stadiums. Britain is now
directly aiding Israel in punishing the Palestinians by denying them
freedom of movement on no legitimate grounds.

The imprisonment of the Palestinian team in this way is a stark
contrast to the welcome Israels national team is expected to receive
in its qualifier against England on September 8th at Wembley. This
unequal treatment of Israeli and Palestinian football teams must be
challenged.

Action Alert:

Write to the FCO:

Demand to know the reason for the U19 teams visa refusals.

Request that the decision made be reversed.

FCO, King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AH

Tel: 020 7008 1500

Write to FIFA, UEFA, and the FA asking them to suspend Israel from
international football until it abides by International law.

Write letters to FIFA (contact@fifa.org), the FA ( info@thefa.com)
and UEFA (media@uefa.ch and info@euro2008.com) and to Kick Racism
out of Football (hermanouseley@aol.com)

JOIN US ON SEPTEMBER 8TH AT WEMBLEY FOR A VIGIL FOR PALESTINE:

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