RAMALLAH: SaudiArabia's football team played Palestine in the occupied West Bank for the firsttime yesterday, having previously refused to enter the territory as part of itsboycott of Israel. The two met in a qualifier for the 2022 World Cup at thePalestinian national stadium in Al-Ram, playing out a 0-0 draw.
Cheered on by apacked and vociferous home stadium, Palestine frustrated their more prestigiousguests and came close multiple times, but neither side were ultimately able tomake the breakthrough. With significant excitement over the match, all ticketsat the 8,000 stadium were given away free on the day, with thousands in oftendisorderly queues to get in. Hundreds of others watched from windows or roofsof buildings overlooking the stadium, which is only a few metres from theIsraeli barrier that cuts off the West Bank from Jerusalem.
Arab clubs andnational teams have historically refused to play in the Palestinian territory-- occupied by the Jewish state since 1967 -- as it requires obtaining entrypermits from Israel, a country most of them do not recognise. The game marked achange in policy for the kingdom, which has previously played matches againstPalestine in third countries, in line with a decades-long Arab boycott ofIsrael. However, in recent years, common concerns over Iran are widely seen ashaving brought the Gulf powerhouse and Israel -- both staunch US allies --closer together.
The Palestinianfootball association described the Saudi team's arrival in the Palestinianterritories as a "win-win" situation. Critics see it as a step towardnormalisation with Israel, and Lebanon, Syria and Egypt still refuse to play inthe Palestinian territories. But othercountries such as Bahrain, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates and Oman have senttheir clubs and teams to play in the West Bank.
'MEETING FIRSTSAUDI'
At the stadium,large Palestinian and Saudi flags had been erected on the building behind it."God, Palestine and Jerusalem is Arab," the fans chanted, with thestadium only a few miles from the holy city. Israel seized control of eastJerusalem in a 1967 war, but Palestinians consider it the capital of theirfuture state. There were no Saudi fans at the stadium but pictures of SaudiKing Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman were erected alongsidePalestinian leader Mahmud Abbas and his predecessor Yasser Arafat.
Palestinians inthe West Bank have to go through Israeli checkpoints to leave and many havelittle experience of the wider Middle East. Wajd Waji, 20, was among a group offour young men wearing Palestinian football shirts
"It will bethe first time I have seen a Saudi person in real life," he told AFP."We meet them all the time on (online computer game) PubG. They are alwaysrude on PubG so we want to shout at them."
Only one of theplayers in the first 11 was from Gaza, the other part of the Palestinianterritories under a blockade by Israel. The winners of the two cups in the WestBank and Gaza are meant to play each other annually but this year it has beendelayed for months after Israel refused permits to most of the Gazan team'splayers.
The Palestinianshad the first real chance, with striker Saleh Chihadeh hitting the keeper inthe 10th minute. The Saudis could have scored as well in the first half butYahya Al-Shehri's strike was well saved. In a second half short of chances,Palestinian substitute Khaled Salem flicked a shot over the bar in the finalminutes. - AFP