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Politics : Idea Of The Day -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: IQBAL LATIF who wrote (48354)	4/23/2005 2:15:24 PM
From: IQBAL LATIF	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 50167

IHT today and NYT yesterday- Israeli Arab uses feet to bridge a gap By Steven Erlanger The New York Times FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2005 Israel finds itself close to qualifying for the soccer World Cup finals for the first time in 35 years and the legs most responsible belong to a devout Muslim, getting on a bit in years, who faces racist taunting nearly every time he steps onto the field. Abbas Suan is the captain of Bnei Sakhnin, the only Israeli Arab team in Israel's first division, a team without a stadium or a practice field but one that still managed to win the prestigious State Cup a year ago. It was knocked out in an earlier round this year, but looks as if it might be able to hang on to its place in the first division. As for Suan, 29, whose last-minute equalizer against Ireland on March 26 kept Israel in World Cup contention, his cheery face and toothy smile are now featured in ads for the state lottery. Its director says he wants not only to strike a blow against racism, but also to entice more Israeli Arabs to play the lottery. For Suan, it's a little more money for someone who makes, without bonuses, about $1,500 a month, and it's another chance to stress, in his quiet way, that Israeli Arabs are an integral part of Israel and are not going to disappear. After his big goal against Ireland - the pun in Hebrew, on the word "equalizer," was that "finally an Israeli Arab gets equality" - Suan was hailed by numerous Israelis as "gibor Yisrael," a Biblical phrase meaning hero or savior of Israel. But he was greeted at a league match against a tough Betar Jerusalem team with profanity and a large sign: "Abbas Suan - you do not represent us." Some Betar fans chanted a slogan, "Abbas Suan is sick with cancer," which rhymes in Hebrew. In response, Sakhnin supporters booed the playing of "Hatikvah," the Israeli national anthem, rarely heard in league games but a theme of the Jerusalem team, which is known for its rightist, nationalist followers. iht.com 'Idea of the day' handled it some what differently on April 4th- Peace through sports Humane response to bigotry, intolerance and prejudice April 4, 2005 iranian.com The past hostility between nations is now discharged on the sporting field rather on battlefields. Imagine, sea change of attitude, Arab players like Suwan and Badir are hailed as heroes in Israel's World Cup campaign, global sports and global events are helping cure the historical cancers embedded deep within societies. Football is working its miraculous healing process within heart of the most of fractious of societies.Lot of bridges of hate and acrimony can be crossed by these overnight champions of sports. Palestinian politicians pushed the point home after Arab pair, who suffered verbal abuse from Jewish fans in the past, scored crucial goals in Israel's two qualifying games last week, leaving Israel on the brink of World Cup qualification. Abbas Suwan, whose 90th-minute goal against Ireland in Tel Aviv last Saturday secured a 1-1 draw, said afterwards: "I thank everyone cheered on the national team and made no distinction between Arabs and Jews. Everyone hugged me in the dressing room." Subsequently Walid Badir, a veteran of the Israeli premier league team Maccabi Haifa, saved the national side from defeat by heading in a late equalizer against France. Three Arabs in the 22-strong Israeli national squad have caught the imagination of Palestinians and Israelis. Their sudden popularity has been hailed as a sign of football's ability to bridge the gaps between warring communities - especially after one of the Arab players dedicated his goal to his "Jewish brothers". Responses from fellow Israeli Arabs, has been lukewarm, however, many of them were sore at the way exultant Israeli fans chanted "He's Jewish, he's Jewish" after Suwan's goal. Many of these fans have been supporting Israel's opponents in the World Cup matches; in protest at what they say is discrimination against them by the country's government. iranian.com