GAZA, September 29, 2012 (WAFA) – Palestinian footballer Mahmoud Sirsik who went on hunger strike to force the Israeli authorities to release him from prison where he was held for several years without charge or trial said Saturday that he will not accept an invitation by the Spanish football club, Barcelona, to attend the Classico game if Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit is also invited.

Barcelona said it has extended an invitation to Shalit, who was held by Hamas in Gaza for five years and released in an exchange of prisoners deal with Hamas, only after the Israeli soldier said he was going to be in Barcelona at the time the Classico game was going to take place and that he was interested in attending the game.

The club, following protests from its Arab fans, decided to also invite Sirsik and other Palestinians to attend the game, stressing that it tries to promote peace in the region and not perpetuate the conflict.

“It is not right to compare me as an athlete arrested because of my sports to the Israeli soldier Shalit who was captured while carrying a gun and his motto is to kill,” said Sirsik, a resident of the Gaza Strip, in response to the Barcelona invitation to him.

“My motto is football, which carries with it a message of love and peace,” he said.

Sirsik said he was flattered by the invitation from Barcelona, which he said was a great club, because it would give him an opportunity to talk about the suffering of the Palestinian people as a result of Israeli violations and aggression.

However, he added, “the one that should be a guest of honor is the one who served his country and people and who was arrested for a higher cause such as sports, and not a soldier who carries a gun to kill and destroy.”

M.S.