Palestinian football stadium construction stopped by Israel

Central Asia News.Net
Saturday 21st November, 2009

Work on a football stadium being built in the West Bank, and financed by the international football federation FIFA, has been stopped.

Israel ordered the construction be halted saying some of the land on which the stadium was being built had been designated for its use.

The Israeli government says the almost-completed stadium may have to be demolished, as the correct permission had not been issued for its construction. This is despite a formal approval of the constuction of the stadium, issued by the Israeli military in 1981.

The stop-work order issued earlier this month said, "You are hereby obligated, in accordance with section of the 1966 City, Village and Buildings Planning Law, to cease activity upon and use of said land, and to raze the building, and to restore the location to its previous state within 7 days. If you do not act as required, all legal means will be taken against you, including demolition of the structure and any means required to restore the situation to its prior state, at your expense."

The Palestinian stadium is a project developed to bring some hope to the impoverished and besieged West Bank population, particularly younger generations. Its development is a joint effort by FIFA and several governments including France and Germany.

Construction of the stadium began more than 3 years ago. The final stage, the erection of the stands, began in February this year. The stadium is just three weeks from completion.

Israel has long been accused of obstructing Palestinians from representation and participation in international sports, which critics say is to deny Palestinian national identity.

In March 2006 Israel bombed the Palestine Football Stadium in Gaza, leaving a massive crater in the middle of the pitch. The FIFA stepped in and paid for the cost of restoring it. "In the world of today, which is disrupted by long-lasting disputes and violence, football is one of the very few universal tools mankind can use to bridge gaps between nations and peoples, and to symbolise what unites our planet over what divides it. FIFA's role is not to reprimand, but to help create bonds and ensure that the young people of the region have hope and the possibility to enjoy the school of life that football represents," FIFA President Sepp Blatter said at the time.

In 2004 Israel tried to prevent the Palestinian football team from participating in the the (FIFA) World Cup qualifiers, by stopping several members of the team from leaving Gaza.

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