Thu 24 May 2012 | 
Gaza and the home ground advantage
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Enlarge textBombs rain down on Gaza, missiles are launched from it into Israel, while the Israeli government bans international media from entering the territory to report on what's really going on.
- 12 Comments | Join the discussion
The mess – and it is a mess – makes a little-known film from 2006 ever more poignant and reminds us why such events can perpetuate, escalate, and ebb and flow with seemingly no end – ever.
But, while Israel pulls the blinds down on Gaza, Goal Dreams (voted in 2006 one of the "Top Ten Movies That Matter" by Amnesty International) did tell what was really going on there.
It's a modest but important movie about the Palestine national football team's quest to – forget about qualify for – simply participate in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
FIFA was quick to recognise the Palestinian team in 1998, a move that gave the Palestine Authority a degree of legitimacy in international affairs.
That, however, opened up a whole new world of challenges for its national team and football provided only brief respite from the daily grind of life for many players, half of whom live in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
If the Socceroos consider they have problems with international travel, they might like to have a discussion with their Palestinian counterparts. Israel's travel restrictions on Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip made it very difficult for players to get to matches.
After Palestine played Uzbekistan in a match in 2005, it took the home-based players 40 hours to cross back via the Egyptian border. The 100-metre crossing was jammed with traffic. The team, and its gear, crossed with the help of a donkey.
It got worse.
Striker Ziad Al Kourd returned to find his house in the Gaza Strip had been demolished. He was later deemed a security threat by the Israeli government and banned him from travelling. Goodbye World Cup dream, indeed.
Some history: When the British ruled Palestine (and what would become Israel) in the first part of the last century, separate leagues existed for Jewish and Arab populations. However, "internationals" between the two "nations" did take place but ended in the early 1930s as violence became the main thrust of regional politics.
These days, though, it's all bullets and bombs.
Idealistically, imagine if Israel and Palestine could sort out their differences on a dusty football pitch. Who, though, would claim home ground advantage?
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Comments (12)
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10 Jan 2009 11:25 AEST
From: Perth
Law of the jungle.
Nice one Vince. Law of the Jungle can sometimes be a last resort. If I had a neighbour who was throwing rocks at my house,I'd ask them to stop doing that. If they didn't stop I'd call the poilce.If they still kept doing it I'd warn everyone in that house to stop it. If they threw a rock at my house and killed one of my family I would probably (?) go to that house and kill them all myself with a baseball bat.I would be considered a murderer but they are not. Hamas R.I.P. and Goodbye..
08 Jan 2009 23:00 AEST
From: Brisbane
Mr
I heard a man of God on the news claiming that "We are just sticking them with needles , they are hitting us with hammers". Well well it appears Darwins theory of evolution is working it's way in Gaza. I think the "Darwin Awards" are still taking contenders. The Darwin awards are of course presented posthumously to those who are stupid enough to ensure to have their genes removed from the human race forever , by their own hopelessly misfortune. When the smoke clears we can welcome the peacefull ones amongst them to continue their lives in peace without harrasment of the Hamas style.
08 Jan 2009 0:01 AEST
From: North Sydney
Am I watching Israeli TV!!!
While watching SBS world news this evening, not once, four times SBS brought Israeli spokes person, first notorious Mark Regev, then one female officer, then one male officer and finally Israeli ambassador to UN, to justify Israeli genoside. It's sickening every time Israeli kill civilians or do any war crime, SBS like FOX brought one Israeli to justify and they most of the time or almost always have the final say. Feels like watching Israeli TV channel in Australia. Shame on you SBS.
07 Jan 2009 17:13 AEST
From: North Sydney
Mahathir was correct.
There are many Jewish people like me, who is against this Genocide
07 Jan 2009 17:11 AEST
From: Penant Hills
07 Jan 2009 17:09 AEST
From: North Parramatta
Yes, Julia and Kevin, you dont speak for us
You are right Mohan Sing. Labor will see our frustration in next poll.
07 Jan 2009 17:06 AEST
From: Harris Park
Julia Gillard and Keven Rudd dont speak for me
John Howard had to pay the price for his support in Iraq war. As a labor supporter, I urge Labor Party not to support Israeli Genocide in Gaza, otherwise it will cost them dearly.
07 Jan 2009 16:59 AEST
From: North Sydney
Hollocaust by hollocaust survivors
Its really tragic to see another hollocaust has been committed by the nation of hollocaust survivors.
07 Jan 2009 16:55 AEST
From: Penant Hills
Mahathir was correct.
Couple of years ago when Dr Mahathir said 'Jews are rulling the world by proxy' then I disagreed. Now, when I see how US, British, German, French and even Australian governments are blindly supporting Israel, then I feel, may be Dr Mahathir was right.
07 Jan 2009 16:45 AEST
From: Parramatta
Where are the true journalism?
I feel just sick, when I see SBS is only relaying Israeli army's version, instead of an independent reporter. This kind of reporting will turn SBS into FOX news and definitely has been damageing SBS's credibility. Some times SBS show some reporting where reporters are inside Israel not is Gaza! How do you justify, pain of loosing of 5 or 6 children of a mother in Gaza with some one running to a shelter in Israel by allowing same time?
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Sport, without spin, from around the world. Matthew Hall considers the issues behind the headlines and tells the stories that others don't.
Matthew Hall Sport, without spin, from around the world. Matthew Hall considers the issues behind the headlines and tells the stories that others don't. Matt is a writer, author, and filmmaker, originally from Perth, he now lives in Brooklyn, New York.
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