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Palestinians cancel meeting with FIFA chief over Israeli event

Gianni Infantino attended Judaization event at so-called Museum of Tolerance in East Jerusalem

The association described the FIFA president’s participation in the Israeli event as a "politicization of the sport and will neither serve peace nor tolerance". Illustration

H. J. I. / AA

The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) on Tuesday cancelled a planned meeting with FIFA President Gianni Infantino in protest of his participation in an Israeli event held on the ruins of the Ma'man Allah cemetery in occupied East Jerusalem.

In a statement, PFA said it was surprised by Infantino's participation in a Judaization ceremony on Monday at the so-called Museum of Tolerance, which was built on the land of the Islamic historical cemetery.

The association described the FIFA president’s participation in the Israeli event as a "politicization of the sport and will neither serve peace nor tolerance."

Located west of Jerusalem, Ma'man Allah is the oldest, largest, and most famous of Jerusalem's cemeteries.

Israeli authorities have built tourist facilities and other buildings on parts of the cemetery, including the so-called Museum of Tolerance.

Israel occupied East Jerusalem during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and annexed the entire city in 1980 – a move that has never been recognized by the international community.