Letter From 174 Palestinian Sports Clubs Calls on FIFA to Suspend the Israel Football Federation
Palestinian football clubs and sports associations urge FIFA to immediately suspend the Israeli Football Association’s (IFA) membership over its inclusion of seven football teams based in illegal Israeli settlements.
Letter to FIFA Council Members
cc FIFA Member Associations
Dear FIFA Council Member,
We, the undersigned Palestinian football clubs and associations, write to urge you to uphold human rights and implement FIFA statutes without discrimination at the upcoming congress on May 11. We ask you to ensure that the Israel Football Association (IFA) exclude Israeli teams based in illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory from its leagues, and suspend the IFA from FIFA if it refuses to do so. Palestinian football rights, FIFA’s reputation as champion of human rights and our ability to play the beautiful game without fear of repression depend on your decision.
The FIFA Monitoring Committee Israel-Palestine, which was established two years ago with the aim of improving Palestinian football, has failed to meet its goals. Israel’s persistent attacks on Palestinian football and violations of the rights of Palestinian footballers are still a daily occurrence. The harassment of Palestinian footballers, the deliberate obstruction of our right to movement in the occupied territory denying us the ability to attend training sessions and matches are well documented. In addition, Israel’s military has bombed Palestinian stadiums several times and prevents football spectators and fans from traveling to matches. The IFA continues to violate FIFA’s statutes by sponsoring teams based in illegally occupied Palestinian land.
FIFA’s persistent delays in making a decision on this matter gives the impression that FIFA isn’t serious about the protection of our human rights, or respect for its statutes. It shows that FIFA is putting politics ahead of human rights by giving Israel a free pass.
FIFA has an unequivocal policy against racism, and took measures to kick racism out of football in the past. FIFA played a historic role in the fight against apartheid in South Africa when it expelled the South African Football Association from FIFA at its 1976 congress in response to the system of apartheid.
At the upcoming Congress, FIFA once again has a historic opportunity to take human rights seriously by ensuring that the seven Israeli clubs based in illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)* are immediately excluded from the IFA, and suspending the IFA’s membership in FIFA if it fails to exclude them.
We are concerned about reports that FIFA will give the IFA a ‘warning’ period of six-months to exclude settlement teams, without specifying the course of action if it fails to do so. We question the necessity of the six-month extension and view it as a continuation of FIFA’s delays in making a decision on this clear violation of FIFA’s statutes. Two years of attempts by the FIFA Monitoring Committee Israel-Palestine to rectify this issue should be proof enough that the status quo should not be extended.
Yours sincerely,
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Nuemeh Youth Club
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Al Majd Sport Club for Disabled Persons
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Fighting Zone Center
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Al Bireh Cultural Club
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Al Zubidat Club
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Betein Club
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Am’ari Refugee Camp – Social Youth Center
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East Sawahreh Club
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Borj Al Laqlaq Society
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Employees Club
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Bido Club
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Hizma Islamic Club
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Beit Hanina Youth Center
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Al Thouri Youth Club
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Sur Baher Club
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Arab El-Jahaleen Club
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Islamic Youth Center – Dahyet Al Bareed
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Old City Society
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We All Palestine Youth Society
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Beit Sourik Club
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Sur Baher Islamic Club
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Beit Al Maqdes Equestrian Society
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Social Youth Center – Shofat Refugee Camp
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Al Quds Club
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Qattana Club
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Al Eizariya Youth Club
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Mount of Olives Club
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Al Ram Ahli Club
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Bir Nabala Youth Club
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Silwan Club
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Al-Jeeb Club
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Jabal Al Mokaber Club
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Hilal Al Quds Club
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Beit Safafa Arab Club
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Qalandia Social Youth Club
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Jerusalem Clubs Collective
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Beituniya Club
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Al Ram Youth Club
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Turmusaya Club
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Bilin Club
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Al- Mazraa al Sharqiya Club
Jenin Clubs:
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Qabatiya Athletic Club
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Barta’a Athletic Club
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Jalboun Athletic Club
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Silat Al Daher Athletic Club
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Jenin Athletic Club
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Ya’abd Youth Athletic Club
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Jenin Youth Center
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Hilal Arrana Club
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Maithaloon Athletic Club
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Marg Bani Amer Club
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Deir Abu Ghusoun Club
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Silat El-Harthiya
Qalqilya Clubs
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Azzon Athletic Club
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Jayyous Athletic Club
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Kufor Thulth Athletic Club
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Ahli Qalqilia Club
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Qalqilia Islamic Athletic Club
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Jensafoot Club
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Kfor Zeibad Athletic Club
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Amaneen Club
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Habla Athletic Club
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ElNabi Elias Athletic Club
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Hijjeh Athletic Club
Tubas Clubs:
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Tamoon Athletic Club
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Al Faraa Youth Club
Tulkarem Clubs:
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Kufor Leid Athletic Club
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Deir AlGhusoun Club
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Tulkarem Cultural and Athletic Club
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Thonabe Club
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Noor Shams Club
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Al-hweikah Athletic Club
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E’teil Athletic Club
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Rameen Athletic Club
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Feroon Athletic Club
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Beit Leid Athletic Club
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Irtah Athletic Club
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Iktaba Athletic Club
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Nazlit Issa Athletic Club
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Anabta Athletic Club
Nablus:
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Ibal Athletic Club
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Balata Youth Center
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SuraAthletic Club
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Qusra Athletic Club
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Number One Youth Club
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Beitta Athletic Club
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Nablus Youth Club
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Qaryout Athletic Club
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Huteen Athletic Club
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AL Ethad Athletic Club
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Jourish Athletic Club
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Askar Youth Center
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Tel Athletic Club
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O’reef Athletic Club
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Aqraba Athletic Club
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Quseen Athletic Club
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Borqa Athletic Club
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Jabal ElNar Athletic Club
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Al Qastal Athletic Club
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Osreen Athletic Club
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Beit Eba Athletic Club
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Sama Nablus Athletic Club
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Tora Athletic Club
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Majdal Bani Fadel Club
Salfeet Clubs:
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Kufor Al Deek Athletic Club
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Salfeet Athletic Club
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Bruqeen Athletic Club
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Bedia Athletic Club
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Abu Shkheidam Club
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Dayr 'Abu Mash'al Club
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Kharbatha Almisbah Club
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Al-Jiftlik Club
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Kufr Ein Club
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Saffa club
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Deir Jarir Youth club
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Jericho Youth club
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Aqabat Jaber Social Youth Centre-Aqabet Jaber Refugee Camp
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Al Shyoukh Youth Club
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Yatta Youth Club
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Al Samou’ Youth Club
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Beit A’awa Youth Club
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Al Istiklal-Yatta Youth Club
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Beit Oula Youth Club
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Tafoh Youth Club
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Al A’rub Center
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Beit Kahel Youth Club
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Al Karmel Yatta Club
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Halhoul Club
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Al Sa’eer Youth Club
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Raboud Youth Club
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Al Burj Youth Club
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Tarqumyah Youth Club
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Nuba Youth Club
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Haras Youth Club
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Tareq Bin Ziyaad club
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Beit Al Tefel Al Falsteni
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Beit Umar Club
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Hebron Youth Club
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Hebron Al-Ahli Club
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Al Fowar Youth Centre
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Tareq Ben Ziyaad Club
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Palestinian Child’s Home Club
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Beit Ummar ClubSureif club
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Bani Na’eemm club
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El-Thahreyyeh Youth Club
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Equestrian Athletic Club
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Al Ramadeen Club
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Susya Club
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Ethna Coalition Club
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Joret Alshama’a Club
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Beit Sahour Womens Club
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Al Wadi Al-Akhdar Club
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Al-Walajeh Youth Club
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Hussan Youth Club
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Orthodox Club Bethlehem
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Mraah Ma’ala club
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Nahaleen Athletic Club
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Bethlehem Disabled Persons Sports Club
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Islamic Club of Bethlehem
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Al E’bdyeh Youth Club
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Beit Fujar Club
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Battir Club
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Al Khader Youth Club
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Arab Orthodox Club of Beit Jala
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Ebda’ Centre Athletic Club
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Dheisheh Youth Athletic Club
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Catholic Action Club-Bethlehem
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A’ida Youth Centre Club
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Al A’za Youth Centre Club
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Wadi Al-Neis Club
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Al-Doha Youth Club
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Salah Al Din Club
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Za’tara Youth Club
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Wadi Rahal Club
* The 7 Israeli football clubs based in illegal settlements in Occupied Palestinian Territory are: Maccabi Ariel (indoor futsal), Ironi Ariel, Beitar Givat Ze’ev Shabi, Beitar Ma’ale Adumim, Hapoel Oranit, Hapoel Bik’at Hayarden, Hapoel Katamon Yerushalaim (primarily located in West Jerusalem but plays some home games in Ma’ale Adumim). See this Human Rights Watch Report.