As any visitor to Palestine would know, a universal passion among Palestinian children would be to start playing soccer (or football as it is called in most of the world). If there is a ball handy and any significant empty space, there is likely to some kids playing soccer.
What better way to promote normality than to promote the building of a soccer stadium. Palestinian teams could play other Arab nations, and for a while at least they could think they had a normal life.
That was the purpose of a new stadium is being built built in the eastern part of Al-Bireh, near Ramallah, at the end of the year. financed by FIFA, the international soccer federation.
In October 2008, when the field was ready, FIFA president Joseph Blatter and Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad laid the cornerstone for the stadium. The governments of France and Germany are paying for the construction of stands. The outer wall, the lighting and the scoreboard are being financed by the Al-Bireh municipality, which owns the land and within whose jurisdiction the stadium is located. ...
(one year later)
Israeli soldiers and representatives of the Civil Administration showed up at the site. They arrived via the neighboring Jewish settlement of Psagot, which overlooks Palestinian neighborhoods and was built on Al-Bireh land. They delivered a stop-work order from the administration to one of the workers (whose name was handwritten, in Hebrew, on it). ..
On November 1, the municipality received a "final" stop-work order - addressed anonymously to "the holder," from "the Supreme Planning Council's building inspection subcommittee," and issued by "Assaf."
Amira Hass
Why is it at every opportunity the Apartheid State denies even the smallest gestures of permitting Palestinian people to live like most everyone else on earth? Are Soccer Games now considered a threat to Israel?
It is thought that maybe this is a way of getting Palestinians to the "negotiating table". But under present circumstances, it would be better termed a "surrender table" as Israel has nothing to offer after refusing to even adapt a simple settlement freeze, despite it being agreed to previously. Or maybe a "Photo-op" table. Israel wants Palestinians to return to the table not because it intends to negotiate seriously, respecting Palestinian rights, or even some rights. It is merely intended to deflect criticism of Israel and as a public relation move. The end Netanyahu et. al. has in mind is a process, not peace.
I don't think this cancellation of this stadium, and the hundreds of other ways Israel is pressuring Palestinians forever give up their rights is going to be successful.
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
Like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
I would not be surprised if we see this explode.