Introduction to International Politics
Foreign Event Analysis
| Locale | ![[]](http://www.kvasaheim.com/flags/flag15-ps.png "Flag of Palestinian Territory") | Palestinian Territory |
|---|---|---|
| Title |
Soccer Game Builds Bridge in Troubled West Bank
| |
| Summary |
Palestine may not have a state but as of Sunday they have, for the first time, a stadium to call their own. Palestine, with help of FIFA, the governing body of world soccer, renovated a stadium outside of Jerusalem which has become the home field of the Palestinian soccer team. The team hosted neighboring Jordan in a friendly match with the two sides tied 1-1.
| |
| Analysis |
The renovation of the national soccer stadium for Palestine brings the one step closer to gaining their own nation-state in the troubled West Bank area. The territory claimed by Palestine is split between the West Bank controlled by President Mahmoud Abbas and the Gaza Strip controlled by Hamas. Israel has occupied the land in between. For the first time, Palestine has brought players from both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip together to play in front of their own fans in their own stadium. Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said the game was a sign of solidarity within the Palestinian people. Gaza’s Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh agreed, stating the stadium game was a symbolic bridge between the two separated sides.
Although one soccer game will not replace decades of strife and conflict in the area, it shows that the Palestinians are willing to work together to achieve a common goal and restore Palestinian relations in their quest to become a recognized nation-state. However, the fragile state of the region was not far from the minds of many of the Palestinian players. While Israeli officials let many players from the Gaza Strip cross to the West Bank, Palestinian captain, Saeb Jundiya, was barred from leaving the Strip, for security concerns. The turbulent history of this region may have been spared for 90 minutes of soccer, but 90 minutes of goals and glory could not replace the years bloodshed and war. | |
| Perspective |  | Identity |
| In-Region URL | ||
| Out-of-Region URL | ||
| Submitted | October 29, 2008 at 11:30 pm | |
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