Argentina cancels Israel match, Gaza cheers
Sold- out game in Jerusalem on Saturday cancelled over
Buenos Aires, June 6: Argentina has called off their World Cu p warm- up match with Israel following pressure from Palestinian football officials and international campaign groups over Israel’s treatment of Palestinians in Gaza. There were also claims of threats against their star player Lionel Messi.
The news that the friendly, a pre- World Cup fixture planned for Saturday in Jerusalem, would not be taking place was met with cheers in Gaza, where at least 120 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces during recent protests.
The sold- out game was opposed by Palestinians, who claim the eastern part of Jerusalem, annexed by Israel, as the capital of their future state. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had called Argentina’s President in an attempt to salvage the match, but was told by Mauricio Macri that “there was nothing that I could do”, Israel’s Army Radio reported.
The Israeli embassy in Argentina blamed what it called “threats and provocations” against Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi.
Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestinian football association, had encouraged fans to burn shirts bearing Messi’s name if he decided to play.
“What happened... is a red card from the rest of the world to Israelis,” Mr Rajoub told a news conference on Wednesday.
Israel’s defence minister said it was “too bad” Argentina’s footballers did not “withstand the pressure of the Israeli- hating inciters”. “We will not yield before a pack of anti- Semitic terrorist supporters,” Avigdor Lieberman tweeted. The Palestinian Football Federation had called on Arab and Muslim sports fans to burn photos and T- shirts of Lionel Messi if he attended the friendly match between Argentina and Israel
Jerusalem, June 6: Israel lashed out on Wednesday at Argentina’s national football team over the cancellation of a pre- World Cup friendly in Jerusalem, as Palestinians celebrated the decision after protesting the game.
The Israeli embassy in Argentina on Tuesday announced the “suspension” of Saturday’s match with its national team, citing what it called “threats and provocations” against Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi.
The sold- out game in Jerusalem was hotly opposed by Palestinians, who claim the eastern part of the city, annexed by Israel, as the capital of their future state.
The status of the holy city has come even more sharply into focus since US President Donald Trump recognised it as Israel’s capital. Israel considers Jerusalem its “indivisible” capital.
“It’s a shame that Argentina’s footballing nobility did not withstand the pressure from Israelihating inciters,” Israeli defence minister Avigdor Lieberman wrote on Twitter on Wednesday.
He said the sole aim of opponents of the Jerusalem game was “to strike at our basic right to selfdefence and to bring about the destruction of Israel”.
The Palestinian Football Association — which had urged Messi not to take part — welcomed the scrapping of the game, insisting sport should not “be a tool for politicians and for political extortion”.
“What happened... Is a red card from everybody to the Israelis,” association boss Jibril Rajoub said, sitting next to a sign reading “From Palestine thank you Messi”.
Israeli media said that late on Tuesday prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Argentine President Mauricio Macri, with whom he has good relations, in an effort to save the match but that Macri had said he was unable to intervene. Netanyahu is currently visiting Europe and his office could not immediately confirm the reports. Israeli daily Yisrael
Hayom expressed ire with its front- page headline: “They surrendered to terrorism: The game against Argentina has been cancelled.”
LA ALBICELESTE ‘ NOT WILLING’
Argentine foreign minister Jorge Faurie said before confirmation of the game’s cancellation that he believed his country’s players had been reluctant to travel to Israel. “As far as I know, the players of the national team were not willing to play the game,” Faurie said. The match was initially meant to be played in the city of Haifa, but was shifted to Jerusalem, fuelling Palestinian opposition.
Reports suggested that the Argentine Football Association was supposed to receive a payment of between two and three million dollars if Messi played. Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli last week aired misgivings about having his players make the trip to Israel from Barcelona, where they are currently training.