RAMALLAH, May 14, 2012 (WAFA) – President Mahmoud Abbas Monday received Jordanian Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, the Vice President of the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), and heads of international and Arab football federations on the sidelines of their participation in the Palestine from Nakba to Statehood football champion in Ramallah.

Abbas stressed that the participation of international football national teams in the championship indicates the continuous support to the Palestinian cause and Palestinians’ right to establish an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

In an interview with Sada al-Mala’eb TV program broadcast on Monday, Abbas said that in time when some forbid visiting Palestine, these athletes arrive to stress that visiting Palestine is sacred and necessary to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people and provide them with moral support.

“They truly outran the politicians in their stances,” he added.

Several football teams arrived in the Palestinian Territory to participate in the championship marking the 64th Nakba Day, including the Vietnamese and Pakistani national teams.

Abbas received the Vietnamese team, emphasized to the Vietnamese TV that the Palestinian and Vietnamese peoples enjoy historical relations and praised Vietnam’s struggle to achieve independence, which Palestinians aim to now.

Vietnam’s national football team arrived in the Palestinian Territory, and visited early Monday the sit-in tent in solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails in al-Bireh city.

R.Q.