sigma Posted March 7, 2006 Pro-Palestinian and British Muslim groups yesterday vowed to stage protests against Arsenal after the Premiership football club signed a deal with the Israeli tourism ministry, which will see the images of players used to promote the country as an ideal place to holiday. The £350,000 deal gives Arsenal strong ties with both sides of the centuries-old Arab-Israeli conflict. Arsenal's new stadium will carry the name of the Emirates airline, owned by the United Arab Emirates government, which has no diplomatic relations with Israel. The latest deal will lead to Israel being advertised as Arsenal's preferred travel destination within the Emirates stadium. Messages promoting Israel as a relaxing, sun-kissed destination will also be screened in the stadium on digital perimeter boards and on a phalanx of LCD displays visible to fans, and on Arsenal's website and publications. As the English Premiership is screened around the world, television audiences in scores of countries will see Arsenal and tourism in Israel linked together. Arsenal will move from its old home of Highbury later this year, to the 60,000-capacity Emirates stadium. Israel's economy has suffered as a result of the Palestinian intifada which began in September 2000. The upsurge in violence has made tourists nervous about holidaying there. Israel's ministry of tourism said: "This is designed to broaden the country's appeal as a tourism destination beyond traditional markets." The country's tourist office in London said 2 million people holidayed in Israel last year, an increase of 40% on the previous year, and officials wanted to push that figure to 3 million, to reach the level of tourism before the intifada began. Last year 160,000 Britons visited Israel, up 8% on the previous year. Betty Hunter, general secretary of the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, said: "We are appalled. What's involved is an attempt to normalise Israel in the eyes of the British public, when Palestinian footballers can't even get to World Cup qualifying matches. Five were refused permission by the Israelis to go to a qualifying match." Ihtisham Hibatullah, of the Muslim Association of Britain, said: "British Muslims will be angry and saddened by this deal. We show solidarity with Palestinian people who are oppressed and under occupation, and one of our football clubs should not be supporting an apartheid regime." A spokeswoman for Emirates airline said the deal with the Israeli government tourism department was not a matter for them. "It is a commercial deal between them and Arsenal. Arsenal does not have to get Emirates approval for any deal like that. It's up to Arsenal who they have as sponsors." But a Gulf newspaper quoted an airline spokesman based in Dubai as saying the deal was "unfortunate and we are obviously not happy". the guardian Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jafarel. Posted March 7, 2006 How sad... Emirates should threaten to stop their funding of team. But then they (Arabs, specially Emirates) are chickens... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Resistance Posted March 7, 2006 Islamist going crazy ... you guys are sometimes a joke ... can't u not how u ****** we sound when complain about everything Jewish. First lets note .. Arsenal are owned by a Jewish family .. very private jewish family .. so wats wring if they show their support to their own people. the joke should be on the Muslims who support Arsenal and things jewish ..basically everything, the report was run by a Jewish paper .. now Isreal gets the maximum publicity it wanted .. because we decide to debeta .. gosh it stinks we time and time again we fall into this trap they lay into us. So what if Arsenal support Isreal tourism .. we support Isreal everyday .. our clothes, our food, beauty products .. basically in london u'll be die of hunger if u don't shop in Jewish supermarket ... i say is time to stop moining and create an alternative Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
N.O.R.F Posted March 7, 2006 Arsenal should throw away the sponsor of Emirates Airlines as some arab hijacked a plane,,, A lot of over sensitivity arond these days,,,, Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Keyz 1-8-7 Posted March 7, 2006 As an Arsenal fan I am obviously not happy but this deal is not like the Emirates deal. It wont take name rights and sponsorships, all it does during breaks they will advertise Isreali holiday places, that is all there is to it. And all of that for 350,000 pounds. Emirates are unhappy but they realise that Arsenal FC are not obligated to inform them of these kind of deals. Norman, I dnt think they will throw away the Emirates deal as these Arabs have way too much money, and 150 Million for naming the stadium is quite a lot of money and will go a long way to pay back the debt incurred by the building of the stadium. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Liqaye Posted March 16, 2006 if it boils down to a choice between a 30 year stadium sponsorship and $350,000 for the israelis the emirates will prevail simple economics. All so I really wish that sports could fall of the frickin radar, I watch football to relax and be entertained please tell me I am not making a political statement Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
