From Ynet
Diplomatic tensions have sparked recently between Israel and Brazil over none other than a soccer match, Yedioth Ahronoth reported Wednesday.
The Brazilian government decided to extend a gesture to the Palestinian people and hold a friendly game between two of its leading soccer teams – Sao Paulo’s Corinthians and Rio de Janeiro’s Flamingo – in the West Bank city of Ramallah.
With famed player Ronaldo as the Corinthians’ striker and Falmingo being one of the world’s top soccer teams, many Israelis would undoubtedly love to attend the game, but the Brazilians have made it clear that they are not interested in playing in Israel – only in the Palestinian Authority.
Giora Bachar, the Israeli ambassador to Brasilia inquired about the reports in the local media with the Brazilian Foreign Ministry, which confirmed them.
Bachar filed an official protest with the Brazilian Foreign Ministry, but his report to Jerusalem did indicate that the initiative has yet to find a sponsor.
“I intend to make the Brazilians understand that if a similar game is not held in Israel, we will see it as an act of ostracism,” he said. “It would be better off if they held two games, or better still – a joint game for the Israelis and Palestinians.”
[Tarboush Tip: Wendy]
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“I intend to make the Brazilians understand that if a similar game is not held in Israel, we will see it as an act of ostracism,”
Explain away, hasbara brigade…
By the way, I remember seeing that picture of Ronaldo a while ago… Loved it then, still do!
Posted by Nth_Republic | June 18, 2009, 8:46 pm…and if you date any Palestinian girls, we will consider it an act of anti-Semitism if you don't also date Israeli girls. If you visit any destroyed schools or mosques, you must pose in front of our Qassem museum with Joe the Plumber, too!
Talk about entitlement queens!
Posted by Sean2009 | June 19, 2009, 12:19 amSport- the only place were we Arabs can still truly kick Jewish ass.
Posted by pp2006 | June 18, 2009, 11:21 pm*where
Posted by pp2006 | June 19, 2009, 12:25 pmA tad off topic, but good on the Egyptian team for beating Italy! Too bad the US got whupped by Brazil, although I still love Altidore.
Posted by Nimr | June 19, 2009, 1:31 amI agree. Letting others less than mature behavior rationalize violence of any sort is bad form.
Posted by Angela Neff | June 24, 2009, 5:20 pmYeah for real… I thought they did well against Brazil although they lost.
Egypt is taking on USA next, they'll win easily, end up with 6 points. Do you thing Brazil may lose to Italy and end up with a three way tie?
Some sort of Deja Vu of the 98 Brazil-Norway fiasco that send Morocco out of the Mondeal?
Posted by Fayyad | June 19, 2009, 1:56 amThere really is a lack of creativity on the US side, they miss Claudio Reyna desperately. I don't think that Brazil will loose, but would make for an interesting and confusing result if they did. It is always kind of unsatisfying to win on goal differential.
Posted by Nimr | June 19, 2009, 7:27 amthey will consider it an act of ostracism??????
hasta la vista, bebe
Posted by UmLora | June 19, 2009, 2:49 amUh, ew, football.
Cricket's where it's at. Pakistan all the way, baby.
Posted by SanaKF | June 19, 2009, 6:07 amMeh, Pakistan is over rated
I am all about the West Indies. It isn't even a country!
Posted by Nimr | June 19, 2009, 7:29 amOh please. They've got a good sized East Indian population. South Asia be taken over.
Posted by SanaKF | June 20, 2009, 8:22 amThat is actually why I like them. They are all multi-national and multi-ethnic (warm fuzzies). Plus they have the best uniforms and the awesomest fans. Chutney-Soca is amazing too…
Posted by Nimr | June 21, 2009, 4:07 amIt has nothing on Siraiki.
Posted by SanaKF | June 21, 2009, 8:39 amMeh west indies is too C**p to even exist
Posted by chut kaney | June 14, 2010, 7:21 pmI agree! It's so sweet to see Pakistan win the 2009 title! Given what they suffered in the "war on terror", I have a few relatives there who are finally relieved to have a reason to celebrate. Good on them!
Posted by SouthAsianReader | June 23, 2009, 12:06 amnice to find someone else who likes cricket. screw the aussies though.
Posted by Moataz | June 19, 2009, 9:27 amIf you go to India or Pakistan, you'll struggle to find people that DON'T like cricket.
Posted by Shafiq | June 19, 2009, 9:24 pmI think that's the only reason I fell in love with it initially. I used to make fun of it, then visited Pakistan 10 years ago and was whoa'd at how awesome Pakistani crickets fans are.
And even the 99 Kargil war, which was raging while I was there, couldn't match up to the India/Pakistani matches.
Posted by SanaKF | June 20, 2009, 8:25 amI wasn't talking about India or Pakistan however
Posted by Moataz | June 19, 2009, 8:55 pmThough wouldn't it be great if people held sporting events and concerts that required both Palestinians and Israeli's to attend. Maybe the hatred would begin to recede.
Posted by Angela Neff | June 24, 2009, 5:19 pm