Desmond Tutu and 24 others say no to EURO 2020 hosting by Israel
The UK’s Independent newspaper published on 30 April an Open Letter to UEFA. This appealed for UEFA to exclude Jerusalem from the list of hosts for EURO 2020 It was signed by twentyfive Patrons of PSC and the Russell Tribunal on Palestine.
Letters: Leave Jerusalem off Euro 2020 host city list – Letters – Voices – The Independent .
The text is as follows:
During the next five months UEFA will select 13 host cities for its Euro 2020 football competition. We appeal to UEFA to exclude Jerusalem from this list of hosts.
Israel flouts the UN position that Jerusalem should be an open city for all, making it impossible for most Palestinians to visit the holy sites there, or to visit relatives. The Israeli state supports the confiscation of Palestinian land and homes in East Jerusalem for the use of illegal settlers.
In February this year, Amnesty International published a report entitled “Trigger Happy” which documents the treatment of Palestinians by the Israeli Occupation Forces. The report describes this treatment as “unnecessary, arbitrary and brutal.” Just one example of this was seen earlier this year when Israeli soldiers shot repeatedly at the legs and feet of two talented teenage Palestinian footballers at a checkpoint, maiming them for life.
Israel continues to perpetrate its devastating military occupation of the PalestinianTerritories, flouts international law, totally disregards UN resolutions and imprisons hundreds of Palestinians, including children, without charge. It would be a mockery of FIFA’s Mission and Statutes if Jerusalem were awarded the status of hosting games in this tournament.
Leaders of international football must respond to the pleas from suffering Palestinians to sanction Israel in the community of nations.
Signed
John Austin
Victoria Brittain
Rodney Bickerstaffe
Breyten Breytenbach
Caryl Churchill
William Dalrymple
Rev. Garth Hewitt
Dr. Ghada Karmi
Bruce Kent
Paul Laverty
Mike Leigh
Ken Loach
Miriam Margolyes
Mairead Maguire
Kika Markham
Prof. Nur Masalha
Karma Nabulsi
Prof. Steven Rose
Prof. Hilary Rose
Salman Abu Sitta
Ahdaf Souief
Baroness Jenny Tonge
Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Alice Walker
Roger Waters