The Palestinian struggle needs to refocus, writes Amin Abbas.
In recent times, Palestinians have been polarised by an unexpected question. Which football club is more supportive of the Jewish state, and less deserving of their support: Barcelona or Real Madrid?
Social media is full of stories and recycled pictures hypothesising over this issue, particularly from Palestinians in the diaspora. A crucial feature of the discussion is the position on the conflict of the two stars of the rival teams, Ronaldo and Messi.
Palestinians have a strong attachment to football – and to politics. Conversations about the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip have been going strong for 50 years this week, and our debates on the question of return turned 69 only a couple of weeks ago.
These discussions echo the resistance journey, varying over three generations from popular revolt to armed struggle to popular uprising or intifada, with the last two decades squandered on negotiations and diplomacy. All came to nought.
Last year a wave of futile knife attacks by despairing youth underlined the state of total hopelessness. Last month, it was the turn of the prisoners to seek world attention for their treatment in Israeli prisons, in a gruelling 50-day hunger strike that ended just last week.
Read the full article by Amin Abbas at New Matilda.com.