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Palestinians Want Israel Out Of FIFA

Politics has seem to have wormed its way back into the soccer world with news that the Palestinians want to kick Israel out of the soccer governing body in this month's FIFA Congress meeting.

Apparently, according to FA president Jibril Rajoub, Israel has been involved in "persecuting Palestine footballers, athletes and the movement of sporting equipment".

Rajoub made this statement about the situation:

"Enough is enough," Rajoub said.

"Last year we dropped the resolution when Europe got involved and the Israelis promised to co-operate in improving the situation."

"But one year on it is still behaving like the neighborhood bully, or worse."

"There is now a feeling Europe cannot sit back and ignore what Israel is doing any longer. Israel has humiliated all of those trying to help the situation and nothing has changed.”

"A year ago I agreed to drop the proposal, I will not do that again. The aggression towards our sportsmen and women in the West Bank and Gaza continues. It is hostile and racist and the time has come to take action."

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has tried to help to resolve the issue, but it seems his efforts to this point have failed.  All that is left now is the vote, although some think Blatter will make a last ditch effort to stop this from happening.

But Rajoub thinks this is a done deal and that Israel will be kicked out of FIFA. All they need is three quarters of the other countries votes.

"I think (UEFA president) Michel Platini, who has backed Israel in the past, has had enough. He sent us sports equipment which was held by Israel for 16 months and we had to pay $32,000 to get it," he said.

"Europe has had enough, Africa, Asia and us. The time has come."

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