Arsenal faces protests over its collaboration with Israel

The Guardian has now reported on the sponsorship deal between Arsenal and the Israeli tourism ministry.

Pro-Palestinian and British Muslim groups yesterday vowed to stage protests against Arsenal after the Premiership football club signed a deal with the Israeli tourism ministry, which will see the images of players used to promote the country as an ideal place to holiday.....

Betty Hunter, general secretary of the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, said: "We are appalled. What's involved is an attempt to normalise Israel in the eyes of the British public, when Palestinian footballers can't even get to World Cup qualifying matches. Five were refused permission by the Israelis to go to a qualifying match."

Ihtisham Hibatullah, of the Muslim Association of Britain, said: "British Muslims will be angry and saddened by this deal. We show solidarity with Palestinian people who are oppressed and under occupation, and one of our football clubs should not be supporting an apartheid regime."

I think this is going to turn out to be bad mistake by both Arsenal and Israel but we'll see.