Celtic faces pressure over transfer deal amid pro-Palestinian campaign
Celtic is under increasing pressure from a pro-Palestinian group urging the Scottish club to abandon a proposed £2 million transfer deal for winger Jocelin Ta Bi, reports BritPanorama.
The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), a key organization within the global BDS movement, has reached out directly to Celtic’s management, requesting that they cease negotiations with Maccabi Netanya, the Israeli club involved in the deal.
PACBI describes the transaction as anything but routine, arguing that Israeli clubs cannot be seen as neutral sporting entities. The campaign indicates that engaging in financial dealings with these clubs risks implicating Celtic in human rights violations against Palestinians.
Central to PACBI’s concerns is the ownership of Maccabi Netanya, which is controlled by Aliya Capital Partners. This firm has invested $30 million into XTEND, a company production military drones for the Israeli armed forces. The organization claims that XTEND’s drones have been used extensively by the Israeli military in operations against Palestinians.
Critically, PACBI highlights that the leadership of Aliya Capital Partners overlaps with that of Maccabi Netanya, as Ross Kestin serves as both its CEO and chairman of the club. The organization asserts that XTEND has acknowledged benefiting commercially from military operations in Israel.
“Since the onset of Israel’s ongoing campaign against 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza, XTEND has sold thousands of drones, including armed models, to the Israeli military,” noted PACBI.
Mohammed Alazraq from Lajee Celtic, a football club supported by Celtic fans in the Aida Refugee Camp near Bethlehem, shared that the implications of this deal are deeply personal. “These are the same kinds of drones that are used to surveil our players, our coaches and our community,” he explained, adding that such technology is employed to intimidate youths and destroy facilities in the West Bank.
Historically, many Celtic fans, especially the Green Brigade, have exhibited strong solidarity with Palestinian causes, often leading to significant international attention and sanctions from UEFA.
Reflecting on Celtic’s roots, PACBI emphasized that a club with a history linked to suffering from colonial famine should not foster ties with a regime accused of using starvation as a weapon. Alazraq expressed disappointment at Celtic’s leadership during this pivotal moment, urging that “football should be about dignity and solidarity.” His comments resonate against the backdrop of the growing discourse surrounding ethical responsibilities in sport.
Indeed, as Celtic considers the implications of this proposed transfer, the intersection of sports and politics becomes increasingly evident. The choices made now could define the club’s legacy and its relationship with both its fan base and the broader global community.
