Argentina's World Cup warm-up match against Israel in Jerusalem has been canceled following protests by pro-Palestinian groups.



The Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires on Tuesday confirmed the cancellation of the match, which was scheduled to take place at the Teddy Kollek Stadium on Saturday.

"The Embassy of Israel regrets to communicate the suspension of the match between Israel and Argentina," it said, citing "threats and provocations" against Barcelona star and Argentina captain Lionel Messi, one of the world's most famous footballers, as grounds for the decision.

Read more: Israel Supreme Court upholds use of lethal force against Palestinians during protests

Palestinian anger

Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Wednesday said canceling the games was giving in to hate.

"It's a shame that Argentina's footballing nobility did not withstand the pressure from Israeli-hating inciters," he wrote on Twitter.

However, one of the organizers of the boycott, Fadi Quran of the campaign group Avaaz, told DW that the decision to boycott the match came at the behest of the Argentine squad, in sympathy with the Palestinians.

"We believe the main reason this game was canceled was that the Argentinian team got the facts," said Quran. "The decision was made as a moral and ethical stance. I think it is an Israeli spin to try and frame it as being due to threats."

Watch video 03:58 Argentina soccer game would have been 'unethical'

A 'political match'

However, the soccer match had already been shrouded in controversy after the head of the Palestinian football association, Jibril Rajoub, called on Argentina to abandon the game and told Arabs to burn posters and shirts featuring Messi if the match went ahead.

Rajoub, who has long opposed Israel's participation in international soccer, had criticized the choice of the venue. The stadium is located in an Israeli neighborhood in western Jerusalem that had been the site of a Palestinian village before Israel's creation in 1948.

How the Gaza protests against Israel escalated this year Palestinian PM Rami Hamdallah targeted The convoy of Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah of the West Bank-based Fatah group was targeted as he made a rare visit to Gaza on March 13. The Palestinian Authority said it held Hamas responsible, having failed to provide adequate security. Hamas claimed the attack was aimed at hurting efforts to achieve unity and reconciliation.

How the Gaza protests against Israel escalated this year Land Day march Some 30,000 Palestinians took part in the first of the demonstrations on March 30, marking Land Day, named for the 1976 Arab protests against Israeli plans to expropriate land. Some demonstrators ran at the border fence and 16 were killed by Israeli troops with others injured, and some dying later.

How the Gaza protests against Israel escalated this year Netanyahu: 'We will hurt them' Speaking on April 9 in the Israeli town of Sderot, near Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "We have one clear and simple rule and we seek to express it constantly: If someone tries to attack you — rise up and attack him. We will not allow, here on the Gaza border, them to hurt us. We will hurt them."

How the Gaza protests against Israel escalated this year Protesters injured Palestinians ran to help a young man injured during the border protest on April 13. Stones had been thrown at border guards and the Israeli troops fired on the demonstrators. Some 45 Palestinians died and hundreds were injured between March 30 and April 27.

How the Gaza protests against Israel escalated this year Boy killed on April 20 Protest continued on April 20th, with some Palestinian protesters using kites to transport Molotov cocktails and firebombs over the fence. Israeli snipers killed at least four more Palestinians on April 20th, including a 15-year-old boy. The UN Middle East envoy dubbed the killing "outrageous."

How the Gaza protests against Israel escalated this year May 15: US Embassy officially moved to Jerusalem from Tel-Aviv US President Donald Trump's daugher Ivanka is part of the delegation that opened the new US Embassy in Jerusalem. The transfer of the embassy triggered a fresh wave of protests in which 62 people were killed. The deaths have considerably heightened tensions in the area.

How the Gaza protests against Israel escalated this year US no longer seen as partner in Middle East negotiations As the US celebrated its embassy move from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem, Palestinian protests escalated. The events coincided with the 70th anniversary of the foundation of modern-day Israel, and Nakba Day, when Palestinians recall those who fled or were expelled as Israel was established.

How the Gaza protests against Israel escalated this year More than 60 people were killed in protests Palestinians carried away a protester injured on May 15th after demonstrations marking the 70th anniversary of Nakba.

How the Gaza protests against Israel escalated this year Palestinian youths run from tear gas Hamas official Salah al-Bardaweel said on Palestinian television that all but 12 of the dead were members of Hamas. Mahmoud Abbas the head of the Palestine Liberation Organization is planning to pursue a war crimes complaint against Israel at the International Criminal Court.

How the Gaza protests against Israel escalated this year Israeli airstrikes pound Hamas military targets in Gaza Following an increase in cross-border violence in mid-July, Israel pounded Hamas military targets in Gaza, while Palestinian militants fired more than 170 rockets and mortars into Israel. Two Palestinian boys, aged 15 and 16, were killed in Israeli airstrikes, according to Gaza's health ministry. Three Israelis were injured after a rocket landed on a residential home in the Israeli city of Sderot.

How the Gaza protests against Israel escalated this year Israel temporarily closes its Kerem Shalom cargo crossing with the Gaza Strip Days later, Israel blocked all fuel and gas transfers through the Kerem Shalom crossing with the Gaza Strip for six days "in light of the continued terrorist attempts of Hamas." Israel's defense ministry said essential food and medicine deliveries would still get through. The crossing had been shuttered to commercial trade a week earlier.



Read more: Palestinians call on ICC to investigate alleged Israeli human rights crimes

"This match has become a political tool," Rajoub said. "The Israeli government is trying to give it political significance by insisting it be held in Jerusalem."

Hours before the cancellation was announced, some pro-Palestinian protesters had gathered outside the Argentina team's training ground in Barcelona, Spain, and waved Argentina jerseys smeared with red paint.

Read more: Israel launches retaliatory airstrikes in Gaza after Hamas rocket attacks

Watch video 05:23 Share Avaaz hails Argentina decision Send Facebook google+ Whatsapp Tumblr linkedin stumble Digg reddit Newsvine Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/2z3LE Avaaz welcomes Argentina decision to cancel Israel friendly

'Sports-washing'

The Palestinian group that regularly calls for anti-Israel boycotts and sanctions greeted the cancellation, slamming what it said was Israel's "sports-washing of its crimes against Palestinians."

Tensions between Israelis and Palestinians have flared up in recent months following US President Donald Trump's decision to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and violent protests along the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip.

Israeli troops have killed more than 115 Palestinian protesters, while nearly 3,700 have been wounded. Israel has said its soldiers acted in self-defense.

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amp/sms (AFP, AP)

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