West Bank
Palestinian soccer pitch in Aida camp spared from demolition
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A soccer pitch in the Aida refugee camp near Bethlehem has been temporarily saved from an Israeli demolition order, thanks to intervention by FIFA and UEFA leaders. The global soccer bodies, along with Swiss officials, lobbied Israeli authorities to halt the plan amid concerns over the facility's role as a safe space for children. However, the Aida Youth Center warns that the threat persists without official confirmation.
Israel has secretly approved 34 new settlements on the occupied West Bank in early April, according to Israeli media and the organization Peace Now. Ten of them are existing outposts now being legalized. Sweden and other EU countries condemn the move as a violation of international law.
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The Swiss government has partnered with FIFA to provide 120,000 Swiss francs ($149,000) for building two community soccer fields in the West Bank. This initiative aims to restore access to football in the region through the FIFA Arena project. Eight additional mini-pitches are planned for Israel and the Palestinian territories.