Prince Ali condemns Israeli raid on Palestinian FA

AMMAN — Jordan Football Association President HRH Prince Ali, who is also FIFA vice president representing Asia, on Wednesday “strongly condemned” the Israeli army’s raid on the Palestinian Football Association’s (PFA) headquarters in Jerusalem’s Al Ram district, according to a statement issued by the Prince’s office.

“The act violates humanitarian principles and the noble goals that unite the football family,” the statement quoted him as saying.

The prince added that everyone has to bear the ethical responsibility towards “the blatant violation to all international covenants and norms, something that cannot be ignored and must have an immediate solution”.

The prince stressed that what happened needs a determined stand from FIFA since it includes all international football associations, adding that the Israeli raid and interrogation of PFA members have “crossed all red lines, which requires a more responsible and effective reaction from decision makers”.

The Israeli attack also received angry reactions from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and FIFA President Sepp Blatter.

"FIFA President Blatter was very sad to learn about an incident involving Israeli army forces that happened yesterday at the headquarters of the PFA," said FIFA in a statement.

"FIFA is committed to continuing its efforts to facilitate the relationship between the PFA and the Israel FA."

The AFC said in a statement that its president Shaikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa "has denounced the Israeli army's search of the Palestinian Football Association headquarters in Jerusalem on Monday, describing it as intolerable and unacceptable.

A spokeswoman for the Israeli occupation army confirmed that soldiers had entered the premises because a number of people stopped for routine questioning outside the offices said their identification documents were in the building and the soldiers went in to get them.

"Soldiers went into the offices in order to gather the identification documents only, their presence was not aimed against the Palestine FA in any way," the spokeswoman said.

FIFA set up a task force last year to try and improve relations between PFA and the Israeli Football Association.

Soccer's governing body has called on the Israeli government to ease restrictions on the movement of Palestinian footballers and officials.

Palestine joined FIFA in 1998 and have qualified for the Asian Cup, which will be held in Australia in January, for the first time. Israel is a member of the European confederation UEFA.

FIFA said the Israeli FA and PFA would meet again in December.