Palestinian football chief Jibril Rajoub withdrew his association's bid to have FIFA suspend Israel from international football on Friday before shaking hands with his Israeli counterpart. "I have decided to drop the resolution for the suspension," Rajoub told the FIFA congress in Zurich before shaking the hand of Israeli FA president Ofer Eini.
But Rajoub insisted the Palestinian FA may repeat the threat against Israel if the key issues of racism and player movement in the occupied West Bank are not resolved. "Palestine has not withdrawn it's application completely, but merely suspended it," he added.
"A lot of colleagues, whom I respect and whose commitment to the ethics and values of the game I appreciate, told me how painful it is to hear of the issue of suspension. "But I want to protect the Palestinian footballers, to let them enjoy the privilege of the game as others do." Rajoub said FIFA must now help tackle the issues facing Palestinian players in the occupied West Bank before waving a red card at delegates to emphasise his point.
"I think it's time to raise the red card against racism and humiliation in Palestine and everywhere. It is time," he added. Palestine, which has been a FIFA member since 1998, had wanted the governing body to suspend Israel over its restrictions on the movement of Palestinian players. It had also opposed the participation in the Israeli championships of five clubs located in Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. In an equally passionate address, Israeli football chief Eini said it is now up to the two associations to find a common ground to promote football and help each other in the troubled region.