Argentina match canceled resulted as "A victory of Palestinians"

Cancellation of match by Argentina is hope to us, and it means "World doesn't surrender to Terrorism"

Chairman of Palestine football team ; Julio César Baldivieso

Palestinian groups welcomed the news of the cancellation, saying Israel, through the friendly, had been attempting to “sports-wash” abuses against Palestinians, including recent killings by snipers of unarmed Palestinians during protests at the Gaza border.

The sold-out match, scheduled to take place on Saturday evening at the Teddy Stadium in West Jerusalem, had been eagerly awaited by Israelis anxious for a glimpse of Lionel Messi in Argentina’s final warm-up before next week’s World Cup in Russia.

But fans were stunned when the Israeli embassy in Argentina announced the “suspension” of the game due, it said, to “threats and provocations” against Messi.

Israel’s opposition did not accept the explanation at face value. It said the government had triggered the Argentinian cancellation through its own actions.

Before the match was cancelled, Mr Rajoub had accused Israel of using it as a "political tool" and called on Palestinians to burn replica shirts bearing Messi's name and pictures of him if he played.

The Israel Football Association said it viewed "with severity the physical and brutal threats, which crossed every red line, made by" Mr Rajoub.

It vowed to "do everything in its power in the world football institutions to make Rajoub and the Palestinian FA accountable".

The campaign group Avaaz, which had called for the game to be cancelled, praised Argentina's football team for what it called a "brave ethical decision".

"This proves Argentina understands there is nothing friendly about playing in Jerusalem, when just miles away Israeli snipers are shooting unarmed protesters," spokeswoman Alice Jay said.

Israel said its snipers had only opened fire in self-defence or on people trying to infiltrate its territory under cover of the protests orchestrated by the Hamas militant group, which runs Gaza. 

Cancellation of game had triggered anger of Israel and it is investing through media and through add campaigning .