Celticfansraise£45,000 for Palestinian charities
CELTIC fans have tripled their initial target of raising £15,000 for Palestinian charities in a bid to match an impending Uefa fine for the club.
The European governing body last week launched disciplinary proceedings against the club after a number of fans displayed Palestine flags during Celtic’s 5-2 home Champions League victory against Israel’s Hapoel Be’er Sheva.
The Green Brigade group of supporters subsequently launched an appeal on the gofundme website to match Uefa’s fine and they hit the £45,000 mark just a day after the fund was set up.
The fans are raising money for Medical Aid Palestine, who deliver health and medical care to those “worst affected by conflict, occupation and displacement”; and the Lajee Centre, a cultural and sports project for children in Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem.
In gratitude for their solidarity, the Celtic crest has been beamed onto buildings in Palestine and it is thought a string of properties in Gaza and the West Bank will unfurl Scotland flags and banners in tribute to the East End club ahead of tonight’s away leg in Israel.
Community group the Lajee Center, based in the Aida refugee camp near Bethlehem in the West Bank, posted a clip on Youtube after “one of the biggest solidarity actions in European football history”.
The footage shows youths and children thanking Celtic fans and shouting “I love Celtic” as they wave banners and flags.
According to the centre’s international coordinator Mohammed Alazraq, who now lives in Glasgow, the video is just one of a number ways the Palestinians plan to say thank you, with moves in place for Celtic and Scotland flags to be put up around Palestine tonight as the Glasgow side play their away match against Be’er Sheva.
It comes as Israeli police warn that they will take a “zero-tolerance” approach if the travelling Celtic support wave Palestinian flags during the game.
Mr Alazraq, whose Scottish wife Nicole Currie and seven-month-old son Jawad appear in the video, said: “The Celtic fans sent a huge message last week.
“It has been all over the media around the world and everyone is talking about it.
“It was one of the biggest solidarity actions in European football history, it was amazing, and we wanted to thank them for that, that’s why we posted the video.”
More than 100 Palestinian flags were unveiled at Parkhead on Wednesday, but the display has been found to have broken UEFA’s rules regarding political messages at football matches.
Celtic fans have now decided to raise money equivalent to any fine imposed by the governing body and donate it to Palestinian charities.
Mr Alazraq, who moved to Glasgow two years ago after working at the Lajee Center from the age of 17, said the money sent to the group would help to improve facilities and create a young football team named Aida Celtic.
Meanwhile, Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld has made it clear that police do not have patience for a repeat of the events of last Wednesday.
He said: “It is not illegal to have a Palestinian flag in Israel but provocation by fans of either side is, and we will not tolerate it.
“Any material that would cause incitement to violence would definitely not be permitted to be taken to the game to prevent any disturbances inside the stadium or outside.”