Government decision on Palestinian football team will isolate feelings towards Britain says Graham Watson MEP

6.11.07pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 28th Aug 2007

Criticising the government's decision not to grant visas to the Palestinian Under-19 football team, Lib Dem MEP Graham Watson has signalled that this will serve only to isolate feelings towards Britain.

In a letter today to Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and Foreign Secretary David Miliband, Graham Watson wrote:

"The Palestinian team poses no threat and their tour was intended solely to provide support to a group of boys and young men who would otherwise have no opportunity to play in real football stadia. We have to break down barriers if there is to be peace in the Middle East and we should be building bridges, not shattering the dreams of young footballers."

Commenting on this from Brussels, Graham Watson added:

"I firmly believe that at a time when we should be trying to engage with ordinary Palestinians that this decision will serve only to isolate and polarise feelings towards Britain. Moreover, this comes in stark contrast to the welcome Israel's national team is expected to receive in its qualifier against England on 8th September. This unequal treatment of Israeli and Palestinian football teams must be challenged."

The Palestinian Under-19s should have started a 3-week training camp in early September but last week the British Consulate in Gaza said all the team members had been refused visas to enter the UK.