Palestinian football players are regularly targeted by Israel. Mohammed Saber / EPA
Palestinian football players are regularly targeted by Israel. Mohammed Saber / EPA

Attack on players is part of Israel’s larger game plan



The death of former Palestinian footballer Ahed Zaqqut, who was killed by an Israeli missile strike on his home in Gaza earlier this month, has drawn attention to an insidious tactic used by the Israeli military. As The National reported yesterday, Zaqqut, 49, had a stellar career as a midfielder and was a local hero who was inspiring a younger generation as a coach. Like so many of the people who have died in Gaza, he had no known association with Hamas.

It may be that Zaqqut’s death was an unintended consequence, but there is evidence that the Israelis have a deliberate policy of targetting sportspeople and other high-profile Gazans. There is certainly nothing accidental about shooting footballers in the feet – and that is what happened in January this year when Jawhar Nasser Jawhar, 19, and Adam Abd Al Raouf Halabiya, 17, were trying to cross a checkpoint in the West Bank on their way home from a training session. After being shot repeatedly by soldiers, they were mauled by dogs and then beaten.

In 2009, Mahmoud Sarsak, a 14-year-old boy who was the youngest-ever player in the Palestine League, was arrested without charge and tortured in prison for three years. Many Palestinians suspect he was held simply because Israel was afraid that he would become a sporting hero for his people. Israel has also barred many Palestinian players from travelling to tournaments abroad and from crossing from Gaza to the West Bank.

A report last year on Israeli violations of Palestinian football found hundreds of instances in just five years: from destroying football clubs to stopping international sports teams from going to Palestine. So serious have the violations been that, just before the World Cup this year, Fifa decided to form a committee to monitor Israeli actions against Palestinian sports.

For a people without a recognised country, football – which was played in the former British mandate decades before the creation of Israel – is a galvanising game. It provides people with an opportunity to bond, and entertainment to help them escape from the misery of living in the open-air prison known as Gaza. To target football players is not just an attack on their individual dreams, it is an assault on the aspirations of all Palestinians.

The game plan for Israel is not just to defeat Palestinians, but to crush their spirit. To their great credit, they have not succumbed.

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

The 12

England

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur

Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus

Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid

PSA DUBAI WORLD SERIES FINALS LINE-UP

Men’s:
Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY)
Ali Farag (EGY)
Simon Rosner (GER)
Tarek Momen (EGY)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL)
Gregory Gaultier (FRA)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
Nick Matthew (ENG)

Women's:
Nour El Sherbini (EGY)
Raneem El Welily (EGY)
Nour El Tayeb (EGY)
Laura Massaro (ENG)
Joelle King (NZE)
Camille Serme (FRA)
Nouran Gohar (EGY)
Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)

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Cricket World Cup League 2

UAE results
Lost to Oman by eight runs
Beat Namibia by three wickets
Lost to Oman by 12 runs
Beat Namibia by 43 runs

UAE fixtures
Free admission. All fixtures broadcast live on icc.tv

Tuesday March 15, v PNG at Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Friday March 18, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium
Saturday March 19, v PNG at Dubai International Stadium
Monday March 21, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium

Reading List

Practitioners of mindful eating recommend the following books to get you started:

Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life by Thich Nhat Hanh and Dr Lilian Cheung

How to Eat by Thich Nhat Hanh

The Mindful Diet by Dr Ruth Wolever

Mindful Eating by Dr Jan Bays

How to Raise a Mindful Eaterby Maryann Jacobsen

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Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
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Number of employees: 4
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No Shame

Lily Allen

(Parlophone)

If you go…

Emirates launched a new daily service to Mexico City this week, flying via Barcelona from Dh3,995.

Emirati citizens are among 67 nationalities who do not require a visa to Mexico. Entry is granted on arrival for stays of up to 180 days. 

Moon Music

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

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