At the FIFA General Assembly held in Canada, the Palestinian and Israeli representatives stood close together.
Published April 30, 2026
Palestinian Football Federation President Djibril Rajoub has refused to stand alongside Israeli FA Vice-President Basim Sheikh Slimane during the heated 76th FIFA Congress.
Both men were called to the stand by FIFA president Gianni Infantino at Thursday’s event, but Rajoub refused to approach Slimane, who is a Palestinian in Israel.
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Infantino put his hand on Rajoub’s arm and gestured to Slimane to come closer, but to no avail.
Asked what Rajoub had said when he refused, Suzanne Shalabi, vice president of the Palestinian Football Association, who was also present, said: “We cannot shake the hand of a man brought in by the Israelis to cover up fascism and genocide! We are suffering.”
Israel denies genocide in Gaza.
Mr. Infantino took to the stage and said, “President Rajoub, Vice President Suliman, we will work together. Let’s work together to give hope to our children. These are complex issues.”
Shalabi told Reuters after the tournament that Infantino’s attempt to get Slimane and Rajoub to shake hands showed little regard for a speech by the head of the Palestinian Football Federation, who again implored Israeli clubs not to base their teams in West Bank settlements.
“Being put in a position of shaking hands after every statement defeats the very purpose of the speech General (Rajoub) gave,” she said.
“He spent about 15 minutes trying to explain to everyone how important the rules were and how this could set a precedent for brazenly violating the rights of member associations. And we were going to sweep this under the carpet. That was ridiculous.”
Last week, the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against FIFA’s decision not to sanction Israel over clubs based in West Bank settlements.
The PFA has long maintained that clubs based in West Bank settlements, which the Palestinians seek as part of their future state, should not participate in leagues run by the Israel Football Association (IFA).
Last month, FIFA said it would not take any action against IFA or Israeli clubs because of the unresolved legal status of the West Bank under public international law.
