Could an Israel-Palestinian soccer match bring peace?
Wilfried Lemke says he has supporters ready to provide $1.5 million dollars to finance such a game.
By DPA Tags: Israel news PalestiniansA soccer match between Israelis and Palestinians could be one way to help end the long-running conflict in the Middle East, a United Nations adviser on sport and peace said Tuesday.
Wilfried Lemke, a German who serves as UN special adviser on sports for development and peace, is optimistic such a proposal could be realized. He said he has supporters ready to provide $1.5 million dollars or more to finance such a game in less than two days, provided politicians would agree to it.
The match could be held in Ramallah, in the Gaza Strip or in Tel Aviv, said Lemke, a former manager for the Werder Bremen football club in Germany for 18 years. The club was one of the best in Europe.
"Right now we are far away from realizing it," Lemke told reporters gathered at the German House in New York City for him to explain the particulars of his job advising UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on matters dealing with sports as a contribution to the advancement of development and peace.
The conflict between Israel and the Palestinians has lasted more than six decades.
Lemke said he has talked to Israeli and Palestinian officials, but admitted that the project is a tough one as neither side seems to be able to overcome politics for the sake of sports.
"I won't stop fighting for the idea," Lemke said.
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The only way it could work !!! both team "SHOULD LOOSE"
Never let a European publicly speak until: Drop him off in an Israeli city for 24 hours, and then since he'll still be alive, then drop him off in a palestinian city and then if he makes it 5 hours without being killed and have his body dragged through the street because hes a "Kuffar" (non-muslim) he can then talk about how Israel never stole shit, and never did anything but defend herself against a bunch of religious murderous jihadists.
Sports is a way of venting regional feelings and can lead to peace. After all if every Palestinianian and every Israel took out their aggressions against each other by cheering in the bleeches at a soccer game instead of killing each other, that would be a good thing.
Wow... what a novel idea, an Israeli - Palestinian soccer match. Let them kick the ball around... instead of lobbing rockets and insults at one another. There may be a hitch however, who will be designated as the referee and where does this marvelous phenomenon take place. We all know... the Moon and the Swiss are pre-occupied at the moment.
The Israelis will clobber the Pals as they will not be wearing heavy suicide vests and be slowed down by them.
Last I heard of the Palestinian soccer team they were celebrating a victory. Not the game (they lost) Being able to get together despite the blockade and checkpoints. Such a match would surely garner a lot of press attention, and someone might come up with the idea of sending a camera man to get some "day in the life of" footage of players from both sides. Think the Goldstone report is a problem? That sort of coverage (or the blocking of it) would be worse
that would be of some significance.
Sure. Forget an independent and viable state. Just play soccer. That will be enough. This must have originated with the Netanyahu/Lieberman brain trust.
The best soccer players in the world, in a bold, brazen, international show of solidarity, should be given honorary yet offical Palestinian citizenship -- a worldwide show of unity and force, Drogba, Gerrard, Torres, Deca, Nesta, Rooney, Ballack -- and take on the Israelis. Of course the Israelis would complain about the blatant antisemitism, and refuse to take the field with such bigots. And maybe, just maybe, the New York Times will cover that.
Why on earth would Palestinians want anything to do with this? They are rightly calling for an international boycott of Israel for its land theft, seige of gaza and its (now proven) deliberate targeting of civilians. Boycott. Divestment. Sanctions. Not a bloody football match!