Bahrain Mirror: Head of the Bahraini Society Against Normalization with the Zionist Enemy, Jamal al-Hassan, responded to local press news about calls to differentiate between sports affairs and political affairs, by accepting a Zionist delegation to enter Bahrain and normalizing with it on the pretext of hosting the FIFA congress as an important international sports event. He said that all the aforementioned is "totally rejected".

In response to a statement by Bahrain Football Federation President, Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, saying that the authority approved an Israeli delegation takes part in the congress, Jamal al-Hassan said, "The Bahraini Society Against Normalization with the Zionist Enemy denounces the statement, the obvious and direct normalization, and the unprecedented waiver of the Arab Nation's principles towards the Palestinian cause; which represents the central cause of all Arabs."

Al-Hassan added, "These normalizing steps come in the framework in which the global Zionism and their allies in the region are passing, in order to impose normalization on the Arab people, break the psychological barrier, and deal with the Zionist entity as if it's a fait accompli."

Moreover, he stressed that the dispute is not on politics nor sports, adding, "We are today before a dilemma, but rather before a mockery, since the decision to accept the desecration of our beloved land by the Zionist occupiers, comes contrary to the Bahraini and Arab consensus. It provokes the Bahraini people in all its spectrums, it is something that we do not accept, we demand the specialized official authorities to reverse the decision, and call on our people to stand in one line against this obvious normalization."

Al-Hassan concluded his statement by saying, "We always wish for our kingdom to be in the lead of countries in all field, including sports. However, we confirm that this progress should not be on the expense of the Arab nation's principles, and that the sports statute they seek is neither more valuable nor more important than the blood of our Arab nation, which sacrificed martyrs and fighters for the liberation of every inch of Palestine, from the impurity of the Zionists.

Arabic Version