Israeli lawmaker urges football body to cancel planned youth match with Palestinians

The Israel Football Association is facing criticism after FIFA reportedly proposed a match between Israel’s under-15 national team and Palestine to open a youth football festival in the United States. Association chairman Shino Zoertz said the organization was ready to use football to advance normalization and peace, adding, “Our hands are outstretched toward a better future.”

That proposal drew a sharp response from Knesset lawmaker and Education, Culture and Sports Committee chairman Zvi Sukkot, who sent Zoertz a strongly worded letter. Sukkot argued that the game would not be merely sporting, but would carry political meaning and could grant legitimacy and recognition to what he called the “entity known as the State of Palestine.”

In the letter, Sukkot wrote that “the State of Israel does not recognize the existence of a Palestinian state,” and therefore there is no place to give “sporting or public legitimacy” to a body claiming to represent a political entity that does not exist. He said sport cannot be separated from national and political reality, and described the reported plan as “clear political recognition disguised as a sporting event,” contrary to the public interest and the values taught to young people.

Sukkot demanded that the Football Association cancel the match immediately and act with the responsibility expected of an official national sports body. In a separate statement, he said that at a time when Israel is facing enemies seeking to undermine its existence, it must not grant recognition or legitimacy, even through football, to narratives that challenge its claim to the land.