# CE2004084EN.01045801.xml

| 3.4.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 84/458 |
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3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 84/458

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(2004/C 84 E/0533)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0496/03

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(21 February 2003)

Subject:   Palestine: hatred spreads to football

Subject:

The Palestine National Authority's daily newspaper Al Hayat Al Jadida recently reported extensively on a football tournament held in the Palestinian town of Tulkarem (located in the northern part of the West Bank), partly on account of the fact that the seven teams taking part (all made up of Palestinian youths) had adopted the names of seven shahid — the kamikaze Palestinian martyrs who carry out dynamite attacks in Israel.

Such a shameful and disgraceful choice of name is only one indication of the widespread approval enjoyed by the shahid.

Will the Commission answer the following questions:

| 1. | Can it confirm the above report, which appeared in a number of European newspapers? |
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1.

Can it confirm the above report, which appeared in a number of European newspapers?

| 2. | Will it confirm whether or not the sports event in question, which was obviously intended to stir up further trouble by inciting young people to hatred and encouraging them to exalt false and dangerous heroes, received Community funding which should instead be used in order to promote social and other more tangible initiatives intended to facilitate cooperation and possibly bring about a reconciliation between the two peoples concerned? |
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2.

Will it confirm whether or not the sports event in question, which was obviously intended to stir up further trouble by inciting young people to hatred and encouraging them to exalt false and dangerous heroes, received Community funding which should instead be used in order to promote social and other more tangible initiatives intended to facilitate cooperation and possibly bring about a reconciliation between the two peoples concerned?

| 3. | Does it intend to condemn the event and to call upon the Palestinian Authority to ban any further events of a similar nature? |
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3.

Does it intend to condemn the event and to call upon the Palestinian Authority to ban any further events of a similar nature?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(26 March 2003)

(26 March 2003)

| 1. | The Commission is aware of press reports about a football tournament in Tulkarem referred to in the question of the Honourable Member. |
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1.

The Commission is aware of press reports about a football tournament in Tulkarem referred to in the question of the Honourable Member.

| 2. | The Commission can confirm that the soccer tournament in question has not received Community funding. The Commission is unaware of any involvement or financial support of the Palestinian Authority in the aforementioned tournament. |
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2.

The Commission can confirm that the soccer tournament in question has not received Community funding. The Commission is unaware of any involvement or financial support of the Palestinian Authority in the aforementioned tournament.

| 3. | The position of the Commission is clear. It roundly condemns all forms of violence and incitement to violence. The Union has pointed out the Palestinian Authority's responsibilities in fighting terrorism and will continue to press the Palestinian Authority, as the governing body responsible for maintaining law and order in the Palestinian territories. The Union has also called on the Palestinian Authority and Mr Arafat to take a clear position against incitement to hatred and violence. In this context the Union has welcomed, as a positive step, the Palestinian Authority's commitment in its Reform Action Plan of 25 June 2002‘to renounce fanaticism in the educational curricula and spread the spirit of democracy, enlightenment and openness on a wide scale.’ The Union will continue to press the Palestinian Authority in the context of these commitments. |
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3.

The position of the Commission is clear. It roundly condemns all forms of violence and incitement to violence. The Union has pointed out the Palestinian Authority's responsibilities in fighting terrorism and will continue to press the Palestinian Authority, as the governing body responsible for maintaining law and order in the Palestinian territories. The Union has also called on the Palestinian Authority and Mr Arafat to take a clear position against incitement to hatred and violence. In this context the Union has welcomed, as a positive step, the Palestinian Authority's commitment in its Reform Action Plan of 25 June 2002‘to renounce fanaticism in the educational curricula and spread the spirit of democracy, enlightenment and openness on a wide scale.’ The Union will continue to press the Palestinian Authority in the context of these commitments.

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