Palestine FA President Jibril Rajoub said Palestine will urge delegates at next month’s FIFA Congress to take sanctions against Israel while it continues to act "like the neighborhood bully," according to Mike Collett of REUTERS. Speaking at the Soccerex Asian Forum being held on the banks of the Dead Sea, Rajoub said that the relationship between the two Middle East neighbors "had seriously deteriorated following the recent arrest of a Palestine footballer and the shooting of two other players." He said a task force established by FIFA President Sepp Blatter last year that included both nations and representatives from UEFA, Israel’s European confederation and the AFC, Palestine’s Asian confederation, "had failed to implement any real change or improvement on the main issues of freedom of movement and access for Palestinian athletes." There was "no immediate comment" from any Israeli source. Rajoub: "So far the Israelis are not cooperating. I hope Blatter and all those who have good intentions can still solve the problem before the Congress otherwise I am going for sanctions against the Israelis" (REUTERS, 5/13).
