Over 6,000 people took part in the fifth Palestine Marathon on Friday (31st March) with the race starting and finishing at the historic Church of Nativity in Bethlehem.

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

Palestinians and competitors from around sixty countries took over the roads of the West Bank city of Bethlehem on Friday for the 2017 Palestine Marathon.

Organisers said over 6,000 people took part in the fifth Palestinian Marathon, as Palestinians together with 700 participants from around the globe raced through the historic city of Bethlehem.

The race started and finished at the Church of Nativity in Manger Square and part of the route was near the Israeli-built West Bank separation wall.

Israel said the separation wall is needed to keep Palestinian attackers out of Israel, while Palestinians say the separation wall is stolen Palestinian land.

For the second year in a row Mervin Steenkamp from South Africa was the first across the line and pocketed a prize of 1,500 US dollars .

He completed the 26.2 miles (42.195 kilometres) in two hours and 51 minutes.

Bethlehem, West Bank. 31st March 2017.

1. 00:00 Start of the race

2. 00:08 Start sign, reads (Arabic and English) "The fifth Palestine marathon, Start "

3. 00:13 Various of runners

4. 00:23 Israeli security tower

5. 00:28 Various of runners near separation wall

6. 00:43 Mostafa Barghouti , PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) Executive committee member

7. 00:48 SOUNDBITE (English): Mostafa Barghouti, PLO Executive committee member:

"We participate with six thousand people today in the fifth Palestine marathon to send a message, we are demanding freedom. This is a marathon about freedom of movement, it's a marathon against the apartheid wall that is built around Bethlehem and other places. It's a marathon demanding freedom of the Palestinian people from occupation and the system of apartheid. It's a marathon for real peace, peace without violence, peace without occupation and peace without apartheid."

8. 01:18 Various of runners

9. 01:48 Runners at the finish line

10. 01:53 Finish sign, reads (Arabic and English) "The fifth Palestine marathon, Finish "

11. 01:58 Palestine marathon winner, Mervin Steenkamp, shaking hands with Palestine Olympic Committee chairman Jibril Rajoub

12. 02:07 Trophies

13. 02:12 Steenkamp on podium holding trophy

14. 02:19 SOUNDBITE (English) Mervin Steenkamp, Palestine Marathon winner:

"I feel very exited, very emotional also because it's for me an honour and a privilege to run in Palestine, running against the wall of separation. The route this year, they changed it a bit so there was more hills. This year was tougher and that's why my time was slower than last year."

15. 02:45 Steenkamp holding South Africa flag

16. 02:50 Tee-shirt reading (Arabic and English) "Free Movement"

17. 02:56 Second place, Thaer Shanaah

18. 03:00 SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Thaer Shanaah, Palestine Marathon runner-up:

"The participation of foreign runners gave the marathon an international character when they came to run in Palestine and we want this marathon to become an international event in the coming years. This is a big event that sends the message and shows the suffering of the Palestinian people when we run to complete the 26.2 miles (42.195 kilometres) near the separation wall because we don't have a route with this distance because the occupation control the area."

19. 03:27 People celebrating

20. 03:33 Church of Nativity

SOURCE: SNTV

DURATION: 03:38

A leading FIFA representative tried on Friday (2nd October) to defuse a row between Israel and Palestine.

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

A Palestine proposal to throw Israel out of FIFA for obstructing the free movement of players and equipment was dropped at the FIFA Congress in May.

Instead, they settled for the establishment of a monitoring group led by South African businessman and human rights activist Tokyo Sexwale.

But a recent move to switch Palestine's forthcoming World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia from home soil to neutral ground has caused anger in the region.

Palestine's FA has protested both to FIFA President Sepp Blatter and to Asian Football Association chief Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa.

Sheikh Salman was one of the three pivotal figures, along with Michel Platini and Kuwait's Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah, who made the decision in favour of the Saudis.

Blatter has made it a priority to try and build lasting trust between Palestinian and Israeli officials.

To that end, Sexwale proposed a symbolic game between Israel and Palestine.

Tel Aviv, Israel. 2nd October, 2015.

1. 00:00 Chairman of the FIFA Monitoring Committee Israel and Palestine, Tokyo Sexwale, walking in corridor.

2. 00:13 Sexwale walking into press room.

3. 00:21 Cameraman.

4. 00:24 SOUNDBITE (English): Tokyo Sexwale, Chairman of the FIFA Monitoring Committee, Israel & Palestine

(Is he still considering running for FIFA president?) "I have issued a statement when the rumours started following the meeting with the FIFA draw in St. Petersburg. But I will apply my mind. There is a still a deadline I think it ends on the 26th of this month? Yes. But we still have some days and I am sure that in the right time I will make a pronouncement."

5. 00:53 Cameraman.

6. 00:57 SOUNDBITE (English): Tokyo Sexwale, Chairman of the FIFA Monitoring Committee, Israel and Palestine:

(How does he think FIFA was damaged by the criminal investigation opened into Sepp Blatter?) "I think for the purpose of this meeting I would like refrain from talking about the problems of FIFA. They are there, you know them and there will be relevant people to deal with that. But one hopes that at the end of the day for the sake of football again as it is played by small children in the dusty bowls of Chad or outside of the earthquake of Nepal, as it is played by Messi and Ronaldo, I hope that in the interest of the beautiful game FIFA will find a resolution to it's problems. I have opinions, very strong ones, but I don't think this press conference is for that."

7. 01:44 Cameraman.

8. 01:49 SOUNDBITE (English): Tokyo Sexwale, Chairman of the FIFA Monitoring Committee, Israel and Palestine:

"This is our meeting number one. We are all engaged and I find that all parties are interested in finding solutions that will make the play an enjoyment of football to be fulfilled. The question we are still going to be discussing is the one of the territories, and we are mindful that that question if resolution, belongs to political authorities, both here in Israel and elsewhere because this question has been internationalised. But I want to make it very clear, it is not a FIFA issue it is not our problem sitting inside this meeting, but it is a problem that is confronting football, and we have to come to a resolution of that problem, advising the relevant political authorities both here in Israel and elsewhere, to assist us in resolution of that problem."

9. 02:55 Cameraman.

10. 02:57 SOUNDBITE (English): Tokyo Sexwale, Chairman of the FIFA Monitoring Committee, Israel and Palestine:

"I proposed the meeting between the national team of Israel and the national team of Palestine to take place in South Africa. It is my proposal - not at today's meeting, but I proposed it at our meeting in Zurich, what we call the kick off meeting that was chaired by Mr. Blatter. So I hope that when all is said and done, there will be that kind of game because we had used football quite a lot in other situations to bring friendship and peace among people."

11. 03:34 Sexwale, Ofer Eini, head of the Israeli Football Association and Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestinian Football Association.

STORYLINE:

The Palestine Football Association on Saturday (25th August) lashed out at FIFA for banning the association's president, Jibril Rajoub, from games for a year for inciting hatred and violence toward Argentine icon Lionel Messi.

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

The head of Palestinian soccer said on Saturday he will appeal FIFA's year-long ban on him for inciting against Argentine superstar Lionel Messi as part of his campaign to stop Argentina's national team from playing in Israel.

Jibril Rajoub told The Associated Press he was consulting with his lawyers and will "use every possible opportunity" to fight the decision. He spoke by phone from China and said he planned a press conference upon his return to Ramallah later this week.

Rajoub's Palestine Football Association has lashed out at the decision by international soccer's ruling body as "absurd and lacking in evidence."

FIFA said Jibril Rajoub "incited hatred and violence" by calling on soccer fans "to target the Argentinian Football Association and burn jerseys and pictures of Lionel Messi."

Argentina eventually abandoned the trip to Jerusalem for a game against Israel in June.

Argentina Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie said at the time players felt "totally attacked, violated" after images emerged of the team's white and sky-blue striped jerseys stained with red paint resembling blood.

FIFA imposed the minimum ban allowed in its disciplinary code for inciting hatred or violence.

It prevents Rajoub from attending matches or engaging with the media at or near stadiums on match days for a year.

Rajoub, who is also head of the Palestinian Olympic Committee, was fined 20,000 Swiss francs ($20,300 USD).

The punishment marks an embarrassing blow for Rajoub, who has long lobbied FIFA to sanction Israel for what he called its restriction of movement of Palestinian players.

Israel has rejected the Palestinian campaign as an attempt to politicize sports and has cited security concerns as the reason behind the occasional restrictions placed on Palestinian players, particularly in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

Rajoub's organisation accused FIFA of bowing to pressure of "interest groups" and Jewish West Bank settlers who sought to punish Rajoub for his comments.

Ramallah, West Bank. 25th August, 2018

1. 00:00 Various, Ramallah street shots

2. 00:25 SOUNDBITE (English): Mohammed Ajabi, Ramallah resident:

"It's wrong, definitely wrong and I think there were unfair dealing with him in such ways, yes. If he has something to say, something that goes against his country, like stopping the Argentinian team from coming to play against the Israelis, it's his right to say so and it's his right to stand and protest, if that's his way of protesting, that's his way. He didn't do it violently, there was no violence, it was all peaceful, there were words, there was no physical thing where he was violent or he burned, or he would fight any Israelis, he just spoke what was on his mind and the Argentinian team listened, they didn't come and they didn't play so why should he be punished for doing something that he thinks is right, it's his freedom, it's his will, when it comes to freedom of speech you know everyone should be able to say what he wants, nothing more."

3. 01:17 More street shots

4. 01:37 Exterior of Palestine Football Association

5. 01:42 Sign on building reading Palestine Football Association

6. 01:47 Establishing shot of Susan Shalabi in office

7. 01:52 SOUNDBITE (English): Susan Shalabi, AFC Executive Committee member:

"We think it's absurd and in-proportionate because you know giving the maximum punishment over an infringement that was only based on media reports by a party that was not neutral, we think this was biased. But than in the end we will respect, as always, we respect the FIFA statutes, we respect the FIFA institutions but we also retain our rights to follow this issue in all the legal venues that are available to us."

8. 02:24 Various of Susan Shalabi working

9. 02:39 SOUNDBITE (English): Susan Shalabi, AFC Executive Committee member:

"Certainly there are political dimensions to this decision. First it was launched by the Israeli football association who everybody knows is in dispute before FIFA with the Palestine Football association and also a settler group was also involved, which is the Palestine media watch which everybody knows is a settler group which is biased in its reports and the evidence that was used by the disciplinary committee to evaluate the situation was only the evidence presented by these two, who had interest in the conviction of General Rajoub."

10. 03:17 Susan Shalabi sitting at her desk

11. 03:22 Sign reading Palestine Football Association

SOURCE: SNTV

DURATION: 03:27

STORYLINE:

Palestine has successfully hosted its first International Taekwondo Championship at the Birzeit University near Ramallah - 321 athletes represented nine countries and the host country topped the medal table with 60 medals, while Jordan came second with 58 followed by Morocco with seven, Russia with five, Turkey with four and the USA with one medal.

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

The first Palestinian International Taekwondo Championship concluded on Wednesday (20th July) at the Birzeit University, near Ramallah in the West Bank.

The tournament was held at the International Centre in the university from the 8th to the 20th of July 2016, under the auspices of the International Olympic Committee.

It was launched with the participation of 321 athletes representing nine countries: Russia, United States of America, Turkey, Morocco, Sweden, Croatia, Jordan, Iraq, Libya and the host Palestine.

Palestine topped the medal table with 60 medals, while Jordan came second with 58 followed by Morocco with seven, Russia with five, Turkey with four and the USA with one medal.

The championship (G1) was also supervised by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), which means the tournament has become listed on the international tournaments schedule - and athletes can register directly through the official website of the World Taekwondo Federation.

Ramallah, West Bank. 20th July, 2016.

1. 00:00 Close-up of a sign saying "Welcome to Palestine".

2. 00:03 Various of the tournament and fans.

3. 00:29 Jibril Rajoub speaking to officials.

4. 00:33 SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Jibril Rajoub, chairman of the Palestinian Olympics Committee:

"This is a great event for Palestine; I think we proved that we can host tournaments with the participation of hundreds of athletes. We did that in spite of Israel obstacles. Israel prevented 29 players from the Gaza Strip and 31 from other countries from taking part in this tournament."

5. 00:57 Various of the tournament and fans.

6. 01:29 Close up of Jordanian player, Shahd Torman.

7. 01:32 SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Shahd Torman, Jordanian player:

"This is the best year for us Arabs in the Olympic games, which are held every four years. Only few countries qualify for the games. This year players from Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco, and Jordan qualified for the Olympics, and they have a good chance of winning medals. This proves that there is a great improvement of this sport in the Arab countries."

8. 01:54 SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Amin Hermazi, Moroccan player:

"The reason why there are a few people (from the Arab countries) participating in the Olympics is because we don't introduce this sport to the kids at an early age. We did not learn this sport when we were kids."

9. 02:11 Various of the tournament and fans.

10. 02:46 SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Malik Abu Alrob, Palestinian player:

"Players need events like this, especially players from Palestine. They are training for the competition but they don't participate in enough tournaments outside their country. When we host a tournament like this, it gives us a great chance to compete and develop."

11. 03:07 SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Abdullah Alhaj, Libyan player:

"This championship was classified and (G1); it is one of the best tournaments I have ever taken part in. Palestine proved that can organise classified or international tournaments."

12. 03:25 Various of the tournament and fans.

SOURCE: SNTV.

DURATION: 03:52.

The head of the Palestinian Football Association told SNTV on Monday (8th May) that he wants Israel to "stop violating status of FIFA" - and withdraw from playing football on the highly-contentious West Bank territory.

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

The ongoing dispute between Israel and Palestine was once again on the agenda at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Congress.

This was the fifth consecutive year that Palestine had raised the issue with the AFC.

The conflict centres around Israeli clubs playing matches in the West Bank - a disputed territory that has long caused conflict between the two sides.

The president of the Palestine Football Association - Jibril Rajoub - told SNTV on Monday (8th May) that FIFA needs to intervene immediately.

"If they want to continue behaving like the bully of the neighbourhood, they should face sanctions according to the status of FIFA," Rajoub said.

Ragout claims that Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has personally telephoned FIFA President Gianni Infantino to urge potential sanctions against Israel to be delayed.

Despite these suggestions, President Rajoub is confident over a forthcoming resolution.

"We are optimistic (as) there is almost a consensus in the AFC that they are supporting us and I hope that the other five confederations also will support us," Rajoub added.

Four Seasons Hotel, Manama, Bahrain. 8th May, 2017

1. 00:00 Mid of Asian Football Confederation Congress (AFC) sign.

2. 00:09 Palestine Football Association President Jibril Rajoub talking to AFC attendees.

3. 00:16 SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Jibril Rajoub, Palestine Football Association president:

"The Israeli Palestinian issue is on both the AFC and FIFA agendas. We demand our right in promoting football according to the rules and regulations of FIFA and its confederations across the globe. We want to stop all that is at odds with those rules and regulations, whether it be the limitations that the occupation brings or preventing the Israeli Football Association (IFA) from holding activities in the occupied territories. This is in accordance of UN resolutions. FIFA's committee headed by Tokyo Sexwale has a report and recommendation from us. One of those recommendations is stopping the breaches (done by the IFA). Or resorting to FIFA regulations. The head of the AFC said that it is time to end the suffering of the Palestine Football Association, and the removal of all the limitations holding Palestinian back from taking part in the game. There is a consensus on this matter in the AFC. We're waiting to discuss this topic with FIFA the day after tomorrow. This time we will not accept half attempts at resolving this issue."

4. 01:52 Mid of Rajoub talking to AFC attendees.

5. 02:03 SOUNDBITE: (English) Jibril Rajoub, Palestine Football Association president:

"The Palestinian-Israeli issue has already been raised for the last five years. This is the fifth Congress that we are raising the issue and we are asking to end the suffering of the Palestinian footballers and also asking to stop official sport activities in the occupied territories. We already have this committee and there will be recommendations and this committee checked with the U.N. (United Nations) and they received an official statement that East Jerusalem, Gaza and West Bank are occupied territories and the Israeli's have no right to practice any official sport activities which is also a violation of the statutory of FIFA, a violation of human rights, and we believe and we hope that this time will be the last chance for the Israelis. If they want to continue behaving like the bully of the neighbourhood, they should face sanctions according to the status of FIFA. If the Israelis want to come and they bite, and they recharge their mental batteries, stop violating status of FIFA, UN security council resolutions and so on it's up to them. But, we are optimistic (as) there is almost a consensus in the AFC that they are supporting us and I hope that the other five confederations also will support us. We are asking for our fundamental right to practice, to play football under the umbrella of FIFA according to the status of FIFA."

6. 04:14 Mid of AFC attendees.

SOURCE: SNTV.

DURATION: 04:22.

STORYLINE:

AFC president Sheikh Salman visited the Palestine Football Association in Ramallah on Monday (23rd April).

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

AFC president Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa praised Palestine's recent footballing success when he visited on Monday (23rd April).

Palestine have qualified for the 2019 Asian Cup for the second time in their history - and will be heading to the tournament in Abu Dhabi in January.

Currently sitting at 83 in the FIFA rankings, Palestine have managed to climb from 131st in 2016 which highlights the team's on-going growth on the world stage.

Head of the Palestinian FA, Jibril Rajoub thinks Palestinian football could still improve more with help from FIFA and the Olympic committee.

Sheikh Salman called his visit, "A chance to meet and discuss all sporting aspects and hopefully this will enable the Palestinian FA to achieve even better results than recently achieved."

Ramallah, Palestine. 23rd April, 2018.

1. 00:00 Exterior shot of Joseph Blatter Academy.

2. 00:23 Arrival of Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifawith Jibril Rajoub.

3. 00:44 SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa, AFC president:

"This is my duty as a continental president to visit all AFC members to see what their situation is and what we can do to help especially after the results achieved by the Palestinian FA in recent years. I think what has been achieved recently is a great achievement with God's help and the Palestinian FA authorities help. They reached Asia Cup 2019 in the UAE. Also it's our duty to be close to federations that are in a bit of difficulty. So we wanted to come and visit and to see what we can do to help development and social programmes. I wish the best and success to Palestinian football at all levels."

4. 01:56 Cutaway to photographers.

5. 01:58 SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa, AFC president:

"We are visiting academies, camps and Jerusalem but the programme is with Abu Rami (Al Jibreel), he prepared everything. This is a chance to meet and discuss all sporting aspects and hopefully this will enable the Palestinian FA to achieve even better results than recently achieved "

6. 02:30 Various of Jibril Rajoub in presser.

7. 03:00 SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestinian FA:

"We hope that he will be our messenger at FIFA to convince them to allow the Palestinians to improve their football and to spread it around and to practice it at home like all other populations around the world under the FIFA umbrella and the Olympic Charter."

8. 02:26 Mid of Sheikh Salman posing for the local media.

SOURCE:SNTV.

DURATION:03:47.

RESTRICTIONS: SNTV clients only. Scheduled news programmes only. Use within 14 days. If interested in archive use after 14 days please contact www.aparchive.com <http://www.aparchive.com>. Internet use only for SNTV clients with digital rights licensed in their contract. For any questions regarding rights restrictions please contact planning@sntv.com

SHOTLIST: West Bank - 16th December, 2015.

1. 00.00 Tokyo Sexwale, chairman of the FIFA Monitoring Committee Israel-Palestine received by Saeb Erekat the Palestinian chief negotiator

2. 00.07 Various of Jibril Rajoub , President of the Palestinian Football Association, Saeb Erekat the Palestinian chief negotiator and the Israel Football Association president Ofer Eini in meting

3. 00.28 Jibril Rajoub, Tokyo Sexwale, Ofer Eini in press conference

4. 00.34 SOUNDBITE: (English) Tokyo Sexwale, Chairman of the FIFA Monitoring Committee Israel:

"We know that the political security that motivated the issues affect the movement of people, and the committee was discussing ways to resolve this, so we will see the report about the problems that are afflicted the movement of people, and how they should be resolved."

5. 01.08 Cut away

6. 01.10 SOUNDBITE: (English) Jibril Rajoub, President of the Palestinian Football Association:

"We will never tolerate any sort of compromise about our right to deliver the game, to practise the game and to be protected by this status of FIFA, which should be a term of reference for both federations including our right to develop the game within the territories recognised by the UN as a Palestinian state, and also the same right as the Israelis to practise their game within their recognised borders and territories."

SOURCE: SNTV.

DURATION: 1:50

STORYLINE:

A panel seeking to improve Israeli-Palestinian football issues met in the West Bank on Wednesday (16th December), but failed to resolve a number of issues angering the Palestinian side.

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

It was the second time the FIFA monitoring Committee Israel-Palestine panel met, and yet still no agreements have been made.

The panel concluded that the issues require more time and broader discussions with authorities in Israel and the Palestinian territories.

The panel is headed by South African businessman Tokyo Sexwale, who is standing in next year's FIFA presidential election.

Palestinians have long claimed that Israeli security restrictions limit movement of their players, visiting teams and football equipment, while Israeli football officials have said that political decisions are beyond their control.

Sexwale was appointed in May after Palestinians dropped a request for the FIFA Congress to vote on suspending Israel from football's governing body.

CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani spoke to SNTV on Tuesday (9th May), following the signing of a declaration earlier that will increase collaboration with the Asian Football Association.

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and CONCACAF signed a memorandum of agreement to strengthen the partnership between the two footballing bodies on Tuesday (9th May).

AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa has backed his CONCACAF counterpart Victor Montagliani, who is seeking formal backing for the 2026 bid from his members at the CONCACAF Congress on Wednesday (10th May).

After the signing, Montagliani told SNTV that he wishes a speedy decision and that he was eager to have the US joint-bid with Canada and Mexico confirmed, despite the nine-year wait for the 2026 World Cup.

Meanwhile, Palestinian Football Association Jibril Rajoub spoke to SNTV as he continues to seek a resolution to conflict in the West Bank.

The conflict centres around Israeli clubs playing matches in the West Bank - a territory that has long caused conflict between the two sides.

Rajoub confirmed that he had spoken with FIFA President Gianni Infantino and it was the fifth consecutive year that Palestine had raised the issue with AFC.

Rajoub also allegedly claimed that Israeli soldiers had been on a field in the West Bank and has once again called for a swift decision from FIFA ahead of their own Congress on Thursday (11th May).

The Radison Hotel, Manama, Bahrain. 9th May, 2017.

1. 00:00 Mid of sign reading (English) '67th FIFA Congress.

2. 00:08 CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani walking through hotel lobby.

3. 00:16 SOUNDBITE: (English) Victor Montagliani, CONCACAF President:

"They (Asian Football Confederation) have a vision of one Asia and we have one of one CONCACAF and I just think it's building bridges between Confederations. It was something that we discussed shortly after I was elected with Sheikh Salman (AFC President) and our staff got together and executed it. We look forward to collaboration in all areas to grow football in our area and obviously for them to grow football in their area."

4. 00:48 Mid of Montagliani talking to reporters.

5. 00:52 SOUNDBITE: (English) Victor Montagliani, CONCACAF President:

Reporter: "2026 (World Cup) seems (a long way away to be making a decision on hosting)"

Montagliani: "Tomorrow. Manana."

Reporter: "But it seems quite a long time away."

Montagliani: "It does?"

Reporter: "Why do we need to make a decision (on the hosts)?"

Montagliani: "Because my daughter was in elementary school not too long ago and and now she's got a boyfriend at 19 (years-old). Time travels."

6. 01:17 Palestinian Football Association President Jibril Rajoub talking to reporters.

7. 01:24 SOUNDBITE: (English) Jibril Rajoub, Palestinian Football Association President:

"I spoke to (FIFA President Gianni) Infantino and Infantino spoke and they spoke with the Americans and they spoke with everybody and they sent threats to me and to everybody. This is what the Israelis are doing."

8. 01:43 Close-up of cameraman

9. 01:52 01:24 SOUNDBITE: (English) Jibril Rajoub, Palestinian Football Association President:

"We are looking for developing the game. Again, I repeat it, according to FIFA statues and again, I don't want to cause suffering to anyone and I don't wish suffering of us, of the Palestinians (and) even to the Israelis. I can show you this picture where it happened just last month (reported Israeli soldiers on pitch in the West Bank)."

10. 02:31 Close of Rajoub on his phone.

11. 02:35 Close of Rajoub.

12. 02:39 Close of photo allegedly showing Israeli troops on a field in the West Bank.

13. 02:43 Rajoub in camera viewfinder

.

SOURCE: SNTV.

DURATION: 02:48.

Palestine will host Saudi Arabia in a 2018 World Cup qualifier on the fifth of November, the head of the Palestinian Football Association confirmed on Thursday (22nd October).

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

The Palestinian national football team will host Saudi Arabia in World Cup qualifier match on the 5th of November, the head of the Palestinian Football Association confirmed on Thursday.

The two teams were meant to play each other on the Palestinian territory on 13th October - but the game was postponed after Saudi Arabia expressed concern over being subject to Israeli security checks in the West Bank.

Ramallah, West Bank. 22nd October, 2015.

1. 00:00 Wide shot of Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestinian Football Association walking to podium.

2. 00:08 SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestinian Football Association:

"We have started preparing for the match on November the 5th in Palestine, we tell the Saudi brothers if you like, you are welcome, but if they don't like we cannot concede our home playground because this is one of sovereignty symbols."

3. 00:40 Cut away of flags.

4. 00:45 SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestinian Football Association:

"The Saudis have appealed to the FIFA, and we will welcome any decision taken by the FIFA, but please don't pressure us, either they agree or find a way to solve the problem of the three points (the one doesn't abide by the FIFA rule loses three points) - and we are ready to concede the three points in order to maintain our right in the home playground."

5. 01:20 Wide shot of palestinians holding Arabic banner reading: " The home stadium is a Palestinian right that cannot be wasted".

6. 01:25 Wide shot of press conference.

7. 01:28 End shot wide of Joseph Blatter academy in the west bank city of Ramallah where the press conference took place.

Palestinian FA agree to FIFA demand to hold two World Cup qualifiers versus Saudi Arabia and Malaysia in Jordan.

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

The president of the Palestinian Soccer Federation said on Thursday (November 5th) that the national team's two upcoming World Cup qualifying matches - against Saudi Arabia on Monday and Malaysia next Thursday - will be played in Jordan.

Palestinian soccer federation president Jibril Rajoub made the announcement at a news conference in Ramallah in the West Bank.

Earlier this week, FIFA said the matches against Saudi Arabia and Malaysia could not take place in the West Bank because of security reasons.

A new round of Israeli-Palestinian confrontations erupted last month, and the West Bank has been the scene of repeated clashes between Palestinians and Israeli troops.

Ramallah, West Bank. 5th November, 2015.

1. 00.00 Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestinian Football Association walking to podium.

2. 00.05 Wide of press conference.

3. 00.10 SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestinian Football Association:

"FIFA sent us a deadline, we agreed and we sent our consent, it is not me who decides and not you. On the day of the game, the match monitor will come and will decide on the technical issues, I'm telling you we have talked to the Saudis to postpone it. "

4. 00.27 Various media at press conference.

5. 00.47 SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestinian Football Association:

"In principle our decision is to go for the matches, one on the ninth, and one on the 12th, regardless of the result and regardless of the circumstances but until now we still have problems with them. If they agree to postpone that will be appreciated if not, that will also will be appreciated."

6. 01.19 Rajoub at press conference.

SHOTLIST: Bahrain International Exhibition Centre, Manama, Bahrain. 11th May 2016

1. 00:00 FIFA Congress attendees leaving

2. 00:10 Palestine Football Association President Jibril Rajoub talking to reporter

2. 00:15 SOUNDBITE: (English) Jibril Rajoub, Palestine Football Association President (on FIFA's decision to postpone the voting on the conflict between Israel and Palestine):

"I think there was pressure exerted against everybody, I don't know by whom, but it's clear...the pressure coming from the Israeli Prime Minister. I don't know if there were others who (tried) to remove this item from the agenda (but) they failed and they wanted to delay the discussion (until) next March 2018 and they (Israel) claimed there is no report. The issue remained on the agenda. We presented our cause and our demands and at the end (FIFA President Gianni) Infantino confessed there is a report and the resolution will come next October rather than to delay the whole issue to March. Our justice case (is) still on the safe side. I think the decision by the council was illegal, irrational but this is what we have. This is FIFA."

3. 01:35 Close of Rajoub's pass

4. 01:43 SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Jibril Rajoub, Palestine Football Association President (on FIFA's decision to postpone the voting on the conflict between Israel and Palestine):

+++TRANSLATION TO FOLLOW+++

5. 02:54 Russia 2018 World Cup bid chief Alexei Sorokin talking to reporter

6. 03:03 SOUNDBITE: (English) Alexei Sorokin, Russia 2018 World Cup bid chief (looking ahead to the FIFA Confederation Cup):

"With 37 days until the Confederations Cup, we're of course all fired up. It's the operational phase now. We can finally move from plans to actual operations. Everything is ready almost. We are waiting for teams to come and waiting to start the tournament."

7. 03:39 Sorokin talking to reporter

8. 03:46 SOUNDBITE: (English) Alexei Sorokin, Russia 2018 World Cup bid chief (on whether there is a racism problem in Russia ahead of 2018 World Cup):

"We do not think that this represents a truly big issue in such a multi-ethnic country such as Russia. In Russia there are over 100 nationalities which co-exist together. If there are one or two outbreaks during the last year (then) we do not think that this represents a really big issue. We are confident that every guest, every spectator, every fan will be welcome in Russia as well as players of any team."

9. 04:28 Sorokin posing for a photograph with Congress attendee

10. 04:33 SOUNDBITE: (Russian) Alexei Sorokin, Russia 2018 World Cup bid chief (looking ahead to the 2018 World Cup):

+++For our Russian-speaking clients+++

11. 05:10 Confederation of African Football President Ahmad Ahmad walking out

12. 05:15 SOUNDBITE: (English) Ahmad Ahmad, Confederation of African Football President (on racism in football following African footballer Sulley Muntari's ban for walking off the pitch in a Serie A match and what FIFA is doing to combat issue):

"It's not bad things but it's not good things. It's a long term fight because not only in football, in all matters in life we have to fight it. Maybe football is the first one who fights too much (for) this kind of matter (to end). It's very sorry (to see what happened to Muntari) but we have to educate people."

13. 05:56 FIFA President Gianni Infantino leaving Congress

SOURCE: SNTV

DURATION: 06:02

STORYLINE:

Palestine Football Association President Jibril Rajoub criticised FIFA on Thursday (11th May) following the organisation's decision to delay voting on the dispute that centres around Israeli clubs playing matches in the West Bank - a territory that has long caused conflict between the two sides.

Meanwhile, Russia's 2018 World Cup bid chief told SNTV that there is no major problems with racism in his country as it first prepares to host the FIFA Confederation Cup in June.

STORYLINE:

Argentina continued their FIFA World Cup preparations in Barcelona, Spain on Wednesday (6th June), a day after pulling out of a warm-up match with Israel.

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

Following pressure from pro-Palestine activists, Argentina decided on Tuesday (5th June) to pull out of a scheduled World Cup warm-up match against Israel.

Football fans in Israel had been eagerly awaiting a chance to see Lionel Messi and his international team-mates in the flesh, but security concerns led to Argentina withdrawing from the match, which was to have been played in Jerusalem on Saturday (9th June).

Claudio Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association, apologised on Wednesday for cancelling the match, but said the safety of the players was at stake.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Argentine President Mauricio Macri and urged him to intervene, to no avail.

Later on Wednesday, Israel's Sports Ministry said a "negotiation" about the match was underway, but gave no further details.

The head of the Palestinian football association, Jibril Rajoub, had called on Arab soccer fans to burn Messi posters and T-shirts if he participated in the match.

Israeli organisers said an offer had been made to play the game in Barcelona, but it appears highly unlikely.

Argentina open their Group D campaign in Russia facing Iceland on June 16th.

Jorge Sampaoli's side will then play Croatia on 21st June and Nigeria on 26th June.

It is unclear whether Argentina will arrange another warm-up match or if they will instead opt to arrive in Moscow ahead of schedule.

_Barcelona, Spain. 6th June 2018. 1. 00_00 Bus carrying Argentina arriving at team hotel2. 00_12 Lionel Messi inside bus3. 00_23 Tilt down from hotel to pro-Palestine demo4. 00_29 Various of Palestinian and Argentinean flags and shirts with writing thanking Argentina for not playing against Israel5. 00_41 Various of speaker during demonstration6. 00_52 Various of anti-Israel banners7. 01_01 SOUNDBITE_ (Spanish) Alice Samson, Pro-Palestine activist__We had planned this event as a sign of protest because Argentina was going to play a friendly game against Israel. But because we've won and they decided to cancel the game we are now here to thank them, because they've chosen to be on the right side of history, and also to remind them that the apartheid, colonisation and occupation continue in Palestine. We will not stop until Israel respects the human rights of the Palestinian people._8. 01_26 Various of demonstration9. 01_51 Various of Argentina training at Barcelona sports centreSOURCE_ SNTVDURATION_ 03_04

STORYLINE:

Reactions from the streets of Buenos Aires on Wednesday (6th June), the day after Argentina pulled out of a World Cup warm-up match against Israel due to security concerns.

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

Argentina's decision to call off their World Cup warm-up match against Israel has been greeted with a range of reactions from the media and public in the South American country.

Following pressure from pro-Palestine activists, Argentina cited security concerns for Tuesday's (5th June) decision to pull out of the match, scheduled to take place at the Teddy Kollek Stadium in Jerusalem on Saturday (9th June).

Football fans in Israel had been eagerly awaiting a chance to see Lionel Messi and his international team-mates in the flesh, but Claudio Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association, said the safety of the players was at stake.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Argentine President Mauricio Macri and urged him to intervene, to no avail.

The head of the Palestinian football association, Jibril Rajoub, had called on Arab soccer fans to burn Messi posters and T-shirts if he participated in the match.

Israeli organisers said an offer had been made to play the game in Barcelona, but it appears highly unlikely.

Argentina open their Group D campaign in Russia facing Iceland on June 16th.

Jorge Sampaoli's side will then play Croatia on 21st June and Nigeria on 26th June.

It is unclear whether Argentina will arrange another warm-up match or if they will instead opt to arrive in Moscow ahead of schedule.

Buenos Aires, Argentina. 6th June 2018.

1. 00:00 Various of front pages of leading daily newspapers in Argentina referring to cancellation of soccer match between Argentina and Israel

2. 00:12 Wide of newspaper kiosk in pedestrian street

3. 00:17 SOUNDBITE (Spanish): Osvaldo Tarsea, newspaper kiosk owner:

"People are really just waiting for the beginning of the World Cup here and to be honest they don't really care that much what happens with Palestine, what happens in Jerusalem and what happens in Israel. I think if they really wanted to go ahead they could have just changed the city, maybe some city close to Jerusalem, and that would have been that, the end of the problem."

4. 00:40 Close of exteriors of Argentine Football Association

5. 00:48 SOUNDBITE (Spanish): Juan Sluman-Fraga, lawyer:

"I think it was just a bad decision, a bad decision because I think the only reason (to cancel the game) should have been based on sporting reasons, and if that had been the case it should have been something that was thought about before now and a contract should never should have signed."

6. 01:10 People walking through pedestrian street in Buenos Aires

7. 01:08 SOUNDBITE (Spanish): Matias Tarres, student:

"Friendlies (football matches) are all about selling the names of players, so more than anything Messi's name was the selling point of this game. I don't know if it was a decision on his part, but I imagine some were in agreement that they should not use the name of players in such a way, and in Israel at a moment when the political situation is what it is today."

SOURCE: SNTV

DURATION: 01:25

LEAD IN

Football is played all over the world, but when the actual pitches are on disputed ground, politics can take over.

A report by the organisation Human Rights Watch accuses football body FIFA of allowing Israeli matches to take place on land illegally taken from Palestinians.

STORY-LINE

The Beitar Shabi Givat Zeev players are taking part in a training session.

They practise passing and close control skills as an autumn evening breeze sweeps through the surrounding rocky hills.

It's a scene played out all across the world, but critics say these players and the games they stage in Israeli West Bank settlements are taking the sheen off the much-loved sport and dragging football's global governing body into regional politics.

Some Palestinian football officials have complained that the mere existence of the clubs in a FIFA-sponsored league legitimises the settlements. Now, a new report by Human Rights Watch accuses the international football federation of sponsoring matches on land illegally taken from Palestinians and is demanding that FIFA ensures the Israel Football Association moves all games played in the settlements to within Israel proper.

"The Israel Football Association includes six clubs that are playing in unlawful settlements in the occupied West Bank, but they belong to the Israel Football Association. Those matches take place on land that has been stolen from Palestinian families" says Sari Bashi from Human Rights Watch.

Givat Zeev is one of six Israeli clubs based in the settlements and their fields are built on land in the West Bank, an area the Palestinians want for their future state along with the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem. Many quarters of the international community consider settlements illegal and an obstacle to peace.

Rather than uniting the conflicting sides, football - no stranger to sectarianism - has driven a wedge further between Israelis and Palestinians.

Jibril Rajoub, the head of the Palestinian Football Association, led an unsuccessful campaign last year to suspend Israel from FIFA over a series of complaints, including the settlement clubs, which he wants banned entirely. The Palestinians say the Israel Football Association is breaking FIFA rules that bar a member association from holding games on another member's territory without permission.

The Palestinians have also been angered by Israeli security restrictions which they say limit the movement of Palestinian players, visiting teams and football equipment.

Israel has rejected the Palestinian FIFA campaign as an attempt to politicise sports and has cited security concerns as the reason behind the occasional restrictions placed on Palestinian players, particularly in the Gaza Strip, which is ruled by the Islamic militant group Hamas.

Following the suspension attempt, both sides agreed to a compromise that included international monitoring of Israel's actions toward Palestinian football players and more scrutiny for the settlement clubs.

A FIFA monitoring committee is set to submit its recommendations on the dispute to a FIFA council meeting on October 13. A FIFA spokesperson said there had been "marked progress" regarding security-related delays but that the question of settlement clubs was still under discussion.

The report slams the fields' location on occupied land in violation of international law.

Using GIS images obtained by the anti-settlement group Kerem Navot, the report says that two of the fields used by the settlement clubs was built on privately owned Palestinian land. Two other fields appear to have been cultivated before being seized by Israel, an indication that they too are located on privately-owned Palestinian land.

Among the fields is the Givat Zeev pitch, which the report says was built on privately owned Palestinian land "taken without permission and rendered off limits to its owners" after Israel built the settlement.

A mosque from a nearby Palestinian town pokes over a ridge surrounding the football field, where a team, clad in fluorescent cleats and blue uniforms adorned with a menorah, train ahead of their first game of the season.

Gabi Perez, the club's founder, says football provides dozens of local children with an opportunity to have fun, teaches them discipline and teamwork and keeps them out of mischief.

"We only deal with education. We don't deal with politics. Let him (PFA chief Jibril Rajoub) find something else to occupy his time, another subject. Let's assume FIFA shuts this down. What will he have achieved? Children won't play football in the Israel Football Association. They will continue to play on the field," he says.

Givat Zeev play in the fourth tier of Israeli football.

Givat Zeev, West Bank - 22 September 2016

1. Wide of football practice

2. Feet of players kicking around ball

3. Zoom out from Israeli flag to football team

4. Wide of West Bank separation barrier

5. Wide of settlement with Palestinian town in background

6. Mid of mosque seen behind rooftops of settlement houses

AP Television

Jerusalem - 25 September 2016

7. Establishing shot of Sari Bashi, Israel/Palestine director at Human Rights Watch

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Sari Bashi, Israel/Palestine director at Human Rights Watch:

"Human Rights Watch has issued a report showing that FIFA, through its affiliate, the Israel Football Association, is fielding matches on land that has been unlawfully taken from Palestinians. The Israel Football Association includes six clubs that are playing in unlawful settlements in the occupied West Bank, but they belong to the Israel Football Association. Those matches take place on land that has been stolen from Palestinian families and Palestinians are not allowed to attend those games, play or come as coaches. In doing so FIFA is contributing to serious Human Rights violations and we're asking FIFA to stop allowing the IFA to hold matches in settlements."

Givat Zeev, West Bank - 22 September 2016

9. Wide of changing rooms with club name written in Hebrew "Beitar Shabi Givat Zeev"

10. Wide of club emblem with menorah

11. Establishing shot of Gabi Perez, club founder, arranging medals

12. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Gabi Perez, Beitar Shabi Givat Zeev club founder:

"I think that whoever through football promotes a political issue is making a mistake. It will be stupid if FIFA comes to that decision. There are politicians, there is a state, there is the United Nations. Who is FIFA? They are a small body in a global system. They can't make a decision like that."

13. Wide of pitch

14. Various of youth team practising

15. SOUNDBITE: (Hebrew) Gabi Perez, Beitar Shabi Givat Zeev club founder

"We only deal with education. We don't deal with politics. Let him (PFA chief Jibril Rajoub) find something else to occupy his time, another subject. Let's assume FIFA shuts this down. What will he have achieved? Children won't play football in the Israel Football Association. They will continue to play on the field."

16. Team moving goal

17. Players practising

18. Players practising with mosque in background

The head of the Palestinian Football Association hailed a "victory" for the "ethics and values of sport" on Wednesday after Argentina abruptly cancelled a World Cup warm-up match with Israel.

Jibril Rajoub held a news conference in Ramallah featuring a picture of him with Argentina's star player Lionel Messi and a sign reading: "From Palestine, thank you Messi."

"I appreciate the decision and I think this is according to the FIFA status and according to their principles, their ethics and their mission and to promote ethics and values, and to build bridges between nations rather than to be a bridge or a tool for political ends, as the Israelis try to use Messi and those stars from Argentina. And I would like to thank them and I appreciate their decision which I think was on the right track," he said.

It was unclear if Messi or his teammates had a role in the cancellation.

Israel was eagerly awaiting the sold-out international friendly scheduled for Saturday night at Jerusalem's Teddy Kollek Stadium and the arrival of some of the world's best players.

Argentina is one of the most popular national teams among Israelis and fans had been scrambling to get a chance to see Messi in person.

But after a fierce Palestinian campaign, which included images of Argentina's white and sky-blue striped jersey stained with red paint resembling blood and threats to burn Messi posters, Argentina's football federation announced it was skipping the event.

Some of Israel's leaders accused Messi and his teammates of caving in to terrorism.

Opposition figures, however, accused Israel's headline-seeking sports minister of bringing on the politicisation of the sporting event by insisting on moving the game from Haifa to contested Jerusalem and by trying to orchestrate a politicised photo-op with Messi.

"We are using sport to play football rather than to play politics. The fatal mistake of the Israelis is that they try to use sport as a tool for political ends. And for this, I think, they failed," said Rajoub.

Israel captured east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed the area in a move that is not internationally recognised.

Israel considers the entire city to be its capital, while the Palestinians seek east Jerusalem as the capital of a future state.

Ramallah - 6 June 2018

1. Wide of Scouts celebrating outside the Representative Office of Argentina

2. Children holding signs and Argentine flags

3. Close of sign reading (English) "Thank you Argentina! The world cannot accept apartheid."

4. Children holding signs and Argentine flags

5. Logo of Representative Office of Argentina

6. Scouts holding Palestinian and Argentine flags

7. Wide of scouts

8. Head of the Palestinian Football Association, Jibril Rajoub, at a news conference

9. SOUNDBITE (English): Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestinian Football Association

"I appreciate the decision and I think this is according to the FIFA statutes and according to their principles, their ethics and their mission and to promote ethics and values, and to build bridges between nations rather than to be a bridge or a tool for political ends, as the Israelis try to use (Argentine player Lionel) Messi and those stars from Argentina. And I would like to thank them and I appreciate their decision which I think was on the right track."

10. Cameramen

11. SOUNDBITE (English): Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestinian Football Association

"I don't think that, this is a political victory. First of all it's a sport achievement but if you want to call it a victory, I think it's a victory for those who are abide, respect the mission of sport. Ethics and values of sport, far from politics and political agendas, I think got a victory on this achievement."

12. Rajoub at news conference

14. SOUNDBITE (English): Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestinian Football Association

"We are using sport to play football rather than to play politics. The fatal mistake of the Israelis is that they try to use sport as a tool for political ends. And for this, I think, they failed."

15. Various of news conference

AFC President Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa admitted on Monday (23 April) he is not certain that all Arab nations will vote for Morocco in its bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals.

Singel, Ramallah, Palestine. 23rd April, 2018.

1. 00:00 Football pitch

2. 00:16 Various of Sheikh Salman talking to Jibril Rajoub

3. 00:23 SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa, AFC president:

"We have two bids - the USA, Mexico and Canada then Morocco. I think both sides are working hard to get the votes in Moscow, but I think that Morocco is capable of hosting the World Cup. I think they have equal chances and I wish them good luck."

Q: "How do you evaluate Arab votes in favour of Morocco?"

"I think this depends on Morocco and how they present their bid in the General Assembly, but I hope that Arabs unite for the sake of their candidate."

Q: "Do you think Arab votes is a done deal or not clear?"

"Well, to be honest I don't think so. So far I couldn't see between the lines which way the votes will go, but for us in the AFC we leave it to the General Assembly to choose the best."

4. 01:24 Various of Palestinian dance and music troupe

SOURCE: SNTV

DURATION: 01:56

The Palestinian national football team will host Saudi Arabia in World Cup qualifier match on 5 November, the head of the Palestinian Football Association confirmed on Thursday.

The two teams were meant to play each other on the Palestinian territory on 13 October but the game was postponed after Saudi Arabia expressed concern over being subject to Israeli security checks in the West Bank.

The Palestinian national football team will host Saudi Arabia in World Cup qualifier match on 5 November, the head of the Palestinian Football Association confirmed on Thursday.

The two teams were meant to play each other on the Palestinian territory on 13 October but the game was postponed after Saudi Arabia expressed concern over being subject to Israeli security checks in the West Bank.

AP TELEVISION

Ramallah - 22 October 2015

1. Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestinian Football Association walking to podium

2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestinian Football Association:

"We have started preparing for the match on November the 5th in Palestine. We tell the Saudi brothers - if you like, you are welcome, but if they don't like we cannot concede our home playground because this is one of sovereignty symbols."

3. Cutaway of flags

4. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestinian Football Association:

"The Saudis have appealed to the FIFA, and we will welcome any decision taken by the FIFA, but please don't pressure us. Either they agree or find a way to solve the problem of the three points (the team that doesn't abide by the FIFA rule loses 3 points), and we are ready to concede the three points in order to maintain our right in the home playground."

5. Palestinians holding banner reading (Arabic): "The home stadium is a Palestinian right that cannot be wasted"

6. Wide of news conference

7. Sepp Blatter Academy where news conference took place