Protest at the national headquarters of the Italian Football Federation
(via Gregorio Allegri, 14)
Rome, Wednesday, November 28, date of the Under 21 draw in Tel Aviv, at 11:30 am
In June 2013, the final stage of the European Under-21 Championship is expected to be held in Israel, a privilege in sharp contrast with the values embodied in sports. Israel has illegally occupied the Palestinian territories for decades, obstructing the Palestinian people’s chances for a future, for self-determination and, more generally, of simply living. A bloody and cruel occupation, consisting in daily negations of freedom and rights. Young Palestinians, in fact, are unable to study, move about, work and play sports as their peers from around the world. A recent emblematic case is that of Mahmoud Sarsak, a young Palestinian footballer with the Palestinian national team, who served three years in Israeli prison, obtaining his freedom only after a 92-day hunger strike and a significant mobilization of international sports figures.
The bombing of Gaza in recent days, killing over 100, almost all civilians, including many women and children, and injuring over 1000, together with the daily violence and oppression of the Palestinians of Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, make Israel a rogue state in violation of international law. Furthermore, the Israeli government’s own policies put Israeli cities in danger, as confirmed by the most recent news, making all the more absurd the idea of Israel hosting an event that should be the celebration of sport and coexistence among the nations.
In addition, the destruction of sports facilities along with Palestinian social and cultural life represent the effective denial of the very existence of the Palestinian people, resulting therefore an indisputable means for ethnic cleansing.
For the reasons above, the endorsers of this call urge the Italian Football Federation to act immediately to denounce this situation by withdrawing the Italian national team from the competition. This is a request being made throughout Europe via the "Red Card Israeli Apartheid" campaign, which in recent months has garnered signatures and support from many sports personalities and thousands of people calling on UEFA to reconsider the decision to hold the Under 21 Championship in Tel Aviv.
Israel makes use of culture and sporting events in order to promote its image as a normal democracy besieged by Arab barbarism. We condemn UEFA for knowingly lending itself to this PR operation.
Only through the widespread practice of boycott, divestment and sanctions can we put pressure on the Israeli government via nonviolent methods. We therefore ask the Italian people, the Italian government and sports fans and organizations to do their part in creating a real chance for peace and coexistence in the Middle East.
Protest at the national headquarters of the Italian Football Federation
(via Gregorio Allegri, 14)
Rome, Wednesday, November 28, date of the Under 21 draw in Tel Aviv, at 11:30 am
Organized and endorsed by: Partito dei Comunisti italiani, Partito di Rifondazione comunista, Federazione Giovanile dei Comunisti Italiani, Gruppo BDS Roma, Comitato BDS Campania, Un ponte per..., Rete dei Comunisti, Comitato "Con la Palestina nel cuore", Rete Romana di Solidarietà con il Popolo Palestinese, Associazione Gattapelata.