Israeli travel restriction against Palestinians are no news, not only within Palestine, but also in and out of Palestine. Those who are traveling to represent Palestine in various cultural events are especially targeted with such restrictions as part of Israel’s efforts to deny and abolish Palestinian identity. 
Last week, Israel prevented Palestinian footballers from leaving Gaza to attend their scheduled match against hosts Singapore.
GAZA (Reuters) – The head of the Palestinian Football Association said his national team’s no-show at an Asian Cup qualifier against hosts Singapore on Wednesday was due to Israel’s refusal to allow players to travel from Gaza.Ahmed al-Afifi said the fixture had to be cancelled because players making up most of the team could not travel through the Rafah crossing from Gaza to Egypt. Another three players, Palestinian expatriates, were to have travelled separately.
He said Israel had also refused to allow team members to take an alternative route via Israel and the occupied West Bank to Jordan for their onward journey to Singapore. They had planned to travel to Singapore on November 12.
The Israeli army denied the allegation, saying Rafah was open to the team at the time of their request to travel abroad.
But a military spokesman confirmed that Erez, a Gaza border crossing used by Palestinians to enter Israel, had been closed due to security concerns related to a six-year-old armed conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants.
Ironically, even though this Reuters’ story was distributed through the wires on Nov. 11th, four days later, FOX Sports was taken by surprise that the Palestinian team was a “no-show.” I guess the apple does not fall too far from Rupert Murdoch.
[Tarboush tip: Abdulio]
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Bloody marvellous. You can go through the Rafah crossing – except no you can’t.
Posted by Anonymous | November 23, 2006, 6:46 amiran soccer is now out of world soccer
Posted by Anonymous | November 23, 2006, 10:08 amKabobfest, You must dedicate your website, at least in these days, just to the events in Palestine. The world is letting Israel slaughter the Palestinians in day light without even any criticism. The killing of the Palestinians is an approved policy by Europe and the US and as long as the massacres and occupation continue, we can not be desensitized to the ethnic cleansing committed by Israel. If one Israeli is killed then every single media source will be covering the killing. Please post more news, pictures and videos to expose the true facts about Israel. Israelis should not feel immune from wrong doing; after all they are the oppressors and the children killers. Just 2 weeks ago 18 people from the same family were blown into pieces, where is the justice? I’m not asking for justice, because justice does not exist in this world, all I am asking is to expose the children killers as much as you can!
Posted by Anonymous | November 23, 2006, 10:10 amwhat happened to laith?
Posted by Anonymous | November 23, 2006, 10:38 pmno disrespect to the palestinian cause mr. 10:10 am, but it seems to pale in comparison to the horrors currently going on in iraq
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061124/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq
Posted by Anonymous | November 24, 2006, 9:00 am9:00, I did not mean to forget about Iraq… I hope I did not offend you. I do call to cover those events equally!
Posted by Anonymous | November 24, 2006, 9:12 amBoo freaking hoo. At least they don’t treat Palestinian athletes like Palestinians treated the Israeli wrestling and weightlifting team at Munich.
Posted by Anonymous | November 24, 2006, 10:07 amBoo freaking hoo. At least they don’t treat Palestinian athletes like Palestinians treated the Israeli wrestling and weightlifting team at Munich.
Ever heard of a logical fallacy?
Posted by Anonymous | November 25, 2006, 1:43 amKabombfesters just tried to knock off a few of the Israeli soccer players in Paris. But they blow up their own grandmothers and childen, so what do you expect?
Posted by Anonymous | November 25, 2006, 3:35 pmnot only our football team is restricted..
also the civilians!
when will hamas go home?
we need our freedom.
i want to live, and be happy, but how can i do it?!
asad.
almanarasquare.blogspot.com
Posted by Asad Ramallah | November 27, 2006, 1:42 amOn the good news front, it looks like the cease-fire is going to stick for a while.
And the Jews, who longtime readers here know are only interested in oppressing and killing Palestinians, are bafflingly offering to release prisoners and concede land. Clearly a dirty Zionist trick by those crafty Jews. The Palestinians should kill some Jews, just in case.
Posted by Roy | November 27, 2006, 7:23 amWhat about Israeli prisoners? This sucks.
Posted by Anonymous | November 27, 2006, 8:30 amOh, also in good news:
Rice is going to a Bowl game!
Posted by Roy | November 27, 2006, 9:38 amOh Roy, you went to Rice?
Despite what people may tell you, it’s a good school, so don’t let that hold you back any…
Posted by Fayyad | November 27, 2006, 10:47 amHave you ever known me to hold back, fayyad?
Posted by Roy | November 27, 2006, 12:31 pmActually, no. I have to give you credit for that.
Posted by Fayyad | November 27, 2006, 7:02 pmRoy should be proud of himself. His people have to work half as hard to get into the big name schools.
Posted by Anonymous | November 28, 2006, 12:56 amYou should be proud, too, anonymous 12:56. You have flawlessly blended racism and incoherence. I haven’t seen such a display since the Michael Richards video.
Posted by Roy | November 28, 2006, 7:36 amRacism is ever pervasive in the minds of the “Chosen People”… even in a country where their grip is firmest. In America, the White Majority has less political, cultural, and moral power than a minority that doesn’t register above 1% of the population. Where’s the outrage their?
Posted by Anonymous | November 29, 2006, 1:33 amanon 1:33, the Joooooooooos are coming to get you and don’t take advantage of the internet, the Jooooooooooos will find you.
Posted by Anonymous | November 29, 2006, 6:56 amWhat is it with the Palestinian cause that attracts such wgite supremacist racists like David Duke to post here? Oh, right, just pure Jew hatred.
You guys are in great company!
Posted by Anonymous | November 29, 2006, 8:33 am