The chairman of the Palestinian Association refused to shake the Israeli representative’s hand

Drama was recorded last night (Thursday) during the FIFA Congress when the president of the International Football Federation, Gianni Infantino, asked the chairman of the Palestinian Association, Jibril Rajoub, to shake the hand of the vice chairman of the Israel Football Association, Bassem Sheikh Suleiman. At the prestigious event held in honor of the World Cup, Infantino presented the request as a step designed to promote peace and unity through sports, but To his surprise, he encountered a complete refusal on the part of the Palestinian representative.

Rajov strongly rejected the gesture and even chose to leave the place as a sign of protest. The move left those present stunned and interrupted the FIFA president’s attempt to produce a demonstration of reconciliation in front of the cameras, in what was described by Rajov as a false attempt to create a presentation of unity that does not correspond to the reality on the ground.

In explaining his dramatic refusal, Rajov attacked Israeli policy and stated that he was not ready to cooperate with what he defined as an attempt to cover up crimes. According to him: “I cannot shake the hand of the one brought by the Israelis to whitewash their fascist crimes and their genocide.”