By: AVAAZ
Source: AVAAZ
Only 48 hours until the decision and the FIFA scandal is all over the media. Sign and share now!
In less than 48 hours the FIFA Congress could vote to suspend Israel’s membership for its racism towards Palestinian athletes. But 75% of the Congress members need to vote yes for this decision to pass. Let’s urgently call on them to suspend Israel’s membership until it stops the discrimination.
FIFA’s own rules forbid racism and make it illegal to forcefully use another nation’s soil for matches, yet Israel’s violence and racism towards Palestinian football goes without punishment. Israel is lobbying hard to convince FIFA to refuse the Palestinian request to suspend Israel. But we only need a few more votes and insiders say what’s missing is a massive push for them to make a strong stand for equality.
Sign the urgent petition to call on FIFA Congress to suspend Israel until it respects fair play and ends discrimination and tell everyone, fast — we’ve literally only got hours. As soon as our petition roars with momentum, we’ll deliver it to the FIFA Congress.
The arguments for a suspension are clear — five Israeli football clubs are based in settlements, built illegally on Palestinian lands, violating FIFA’s rules. Footballers have been shot, and Israel’s racist occupation policies strip Palestinians from their right to freedom of movement, making internal matches in Palestine difficult, and traveling outside the country exhausting, and sometimes impossible.
The FIFA Congress suspended South Africa and Yugoslavia for acts of discrimination. There is no reason to treat Israel differently when it commits the same violations. FIFA’s decisions helped push countries like South Africa and Yugoslavia to eventually change their policies – a suspension now could nudge Israel towards ending its discrimination as well.
The arguments for a suspension are clear — five Israeli football clubs are based in settlements, built illegally on Palestinian lands, violating FIFA’s rules. Footballers have been shot, and Israel’s racist occupation policies strip Palestinians from their right to freedom of movement, making internal matches in Palestine difficult, and traveling outside the country exhausting, and sometimes impossible.
The FIFA Congress suspended South Africa and Yugoslavia for acts of discrimination. There is no reason to treat Israel differently when it commits the same violations. FIFA’s decisions helped push countries like South Africa and Yugoslavia to eventually change their policies – a suspension now could nudge Israel towards ending its discrimination as well.
We have just 48 hours to build a mega petition – sign now and send this to everyone:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/fifa_ban_israel_5_mena_locked/?bqRHjib&v=59411
History has shown us that injustice and repression come to an end the moment they are courageously confronted, and when the perpetrators are shown that racism has no place in our world. A FIFA suspension on Israel will send a strong message of equality that will make oppression and occupation more costly, and make peace a better option.
With hope,
Fadi, Rewan, Falastine, Mohammad and the rest of the Avaaz Team
More information:
Israel cries foul over FIFA suspension talk
http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/25/world/fifa-israel-palestinians/
Palestinian soccer players tell FIFA Israel violates their ‘basic rights’
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/5/20/palestinians-campaign-for-israels-suspension-from-fi…
Fifa: Israel football faces possible suspension vote
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32812288
SEE ALSO:
http://www.timesofisrael.com/fifa-corruption-scandal-may-prove-fortuitous-for-israel/
