Israelis, Palestinians in landmark football talks

Israeli and Palestinian football chiefs shook hands Tuesday in landmark talks brokered by FIFA in a drive to end bitter disputes over security restrictions on players going to and from the Palestinian territories. The closed-door meeting between Palestinian Football Association's (PFA) president Jibril Rajub and his Israeli opposite number Avi Luzon was a watershed, FIFA chief Sepp Blatter told reporters. "It was historic because it was the first time that the two presidents met. They shook hands," the world football governing body's boss said. "It was also historic because it was the first time they spoke together. In the past, when they came to the FIFA congress, they just looked at each other and went away. "At the beginning it was a little bit lively. I won't say any more. But at the end it was trust, confidence and football," he added. Neither the Israeli nor Palestinian delegation met with reporters, with FIFA officials saying that it had been agreed that Blatter would speak on behalf of all participants. The meeting came just weeks after a politically-charged dispute over Israeli entry restrictions on players from Arab nations which led to the delay of a youth tournament hosted by the PFA. In response, the PFA upped the ante by urging FIFA to suspend Israel from international football, charging that Israeli policies were smothering the development of the game in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Israel meanwhile points to the abuse of football facilities by Palestinian militants to fire rockets at its cities and warns that sport has been used as a tool to disseminate anti-Israeli propaganda. "The basic problem in the region is the security problem of Israel and the fact that Palestine is recognised as a full member of FIFA but is not yet recognised as a full member of the United Nations," said Blatter. "But now in football, they can make a step forward, and this step forward I think will be fruitful. The two associations will work together, and we will monitor the different steps," he added. "The idea is that by the end of the year, when we come together for the FIFA executive committee, we should have a solution for how it will be easier for movement of footballers." "Palestine has the right to play," Blatter insisted. "The solution will be that one day, they play football together," he added. He acknowledged that whatever the footballing outcome, the ball would still be in the political court. "Football is not a solution, but football can help," he said. Tuesday's meeting was the first of a task force created in July after Blatter visited the Middle East for talks with Israeli and Palestinian football and political leaders. It yielded several concrete pledges, no small matter given deep regional tensions. "The two national associations will designate a liaison officer. They will sit together and identify the control problems concerning the teams, the material, officials, referees. Then they will have a meeting which is already scheduled to be held this month in Amman," Blatter said, adding that he was optimistic about the outcome. While the Palestinians lack broad international recognition for their would-be state, the PFA joined FIFA in 1998. The future Israel joined in 1929, when it was still under British control, 19 years before independence. The meeting also involved the leaders of European football's governing body UEFA and the Asian Football Confederation. Most Arab nations are members of the latter. For political reasons, Israel has had a rocky road in international football, having played in Asia until 1974, then Oceania, before joining UEFA in 1991. Source: AFP