A tough decision for Palestinian football
URI LEVY “IT is a dream coming true,” said Rami Hamadeh about a call-up that turned into a nightmare. “It is a significant moment for me, and I am so excited to get my spot back in Palestine’s goal. It is where I belong.” Hamadeh’s call-up for the 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia was significant because Palestinians, who are citizens of Israel, are excluded from the national team when they play in Israeli leagues. It’s an unwritten policy that the Palestine Football Association (PFA) put in place as such call-ups might normalise Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory. …