Synopsis FUTBOL PALESTINA 2006, a documentary
project, will chronicle the experiences of a soccer team and the unique
challenge of representing a nation under occupation: Palestine. The
teams stated purpose? To claim a spot in the most important sporting
event on the planet, soccer's World Cup. The chances? Tough, but no
longer impossible.
Despite the athletic odds, this process
is likely to have special meaning to a people without a state, under
military occupation and living in extreme conditions. The real triumph,
Palestinian athletes say, comes every time their flag flies in international
competitions. Through these players, soccer is giving Palestine a taste
of its highest aspiration, what most of the rest of the world so far
denies it: the right to represent itself as a nation.
Our project's crew was with
the team in Chile last year and it is currently with it in Egypt,
preparing for the qualifying games against Uzbekistan, Taiwan and
Iraq. Due to the conflict, Team Palestine will have to play its home
games in Qatar. Players from the distant Palestinian diaspora have
joined those from the territories and the Middle East, adding experience
to the team and depth to the story. We see great value in these players'
experiences and their contribution to a just solution for their country;
the bridge offered by soccer makes for a dramatic story, a huge audience
and more: an opportunity to build deeper, cultural roads to understanding
and peace.
Analysis FUTBOL PALESTINA 2006 will
provide a closer look at a decadesold conflict triggered by
the creation of Israel in 1948 following British occupation,
and its later expansion in 1967. After more than 50 years,
the situation there remains one of the most important political
conflicts of our time, true ground zero in a region the developed
world depends on for resources.
Exploring the Middle East becomes
more urgent today, after decades of Western-sponsored covert action
and war, climaxing recently with the occupation of Iraq. The situation
of Palestinians, without a vote in Israel and nothing real to vote for
in Palestine, rallies the Arab worldand beyond, standing as a monument
to political hypocrisy and mocking the democratic and humanitarian principles
for which the West claims to fight.
Even though the situation of Palestine
is not a new subject, its treatment in our documentary will be. While
most productions about Palestine tend to focus on the most brutal aspects
of the conflict, preaching mostly to the converted, FÚTBOL PALESTINA
2006 will be told in a global language millions can understand: the
game of soccer. Through a global game, a potential audience of millions
will experience Palestine anew, its people and their needs…
Background The progress of organized soccer,
or football, in Palestine has always been tied to the political winds
of the time. The game's debut there dates back to 1908 in Jerusalem.
In 1934, Palestine participated in World Cup qualifiers for the first
time with a team that included Arab as well Jewish and Christian
players. Soccer grew under British occupation, but came to a halt
with the creation of Israel in 1948. Soccer then staggered forward,
but stopped again along most other activities with the occupation
of Gaza and the West Bank in 1967. After the Oslo Accords and the
creation of the Palestinian Authority in 1994, the Palestinian soccer
federation went back to FIFA, and in 1998 local and international
tournaments were played regularly again. Today, soccer continues
to move at the pace of politics, occupation and Intifada marking
the beat. Organized soccer has not been played in Palestine since
the beginning of the latest uprising three years ago
