THE Israeli embassy in London has accused a Glasgow councillor of trying to “sow division" after she called for a football match between Israel and Scotland to be blocked.
Holly Bruce from the Scottish Greens has tabled a motion to be debated at Thursday’s meeting of the full council calling on the SNP leader of the city to take action to prevent the Women's Euro qualifier from going ahead.
She said it was "deplorable" that the country was still in the contest given the situation in Gaza.
Scotland faces Israel at Hampden on May 31 and then again five days later in a match that Uefa has moved to Bucharest.
In her motion, the councillor – whose Langside ward covers the national stadium – states that hosting Israel at the national stadium would "not align" with the council's previous calls for "an immediate ceasefire" in Gaza.
If councillors back the resolution then Susan Aitken (above), the leader of the SNP group, will be mandated to write "on behalf of council to FIFA and UEFA requesting Israel to be suspended from taking part in the Women's Euros Qualifiers, as was the Russian Football Union after their invasion of Ukraine".
It would also see Councillor Aitken write to the SFA and the police to seek assurance that "Glaswegians who wish to protest on the 31st of May will be treated fairly and proportionally and that spectators and footballers wishing to show solidarity with Palestine on the 31st of May are able to do so peacefully".
Councillor Bruce (below) told The Herald: "Against the backdrop of the Israeli government's ongoing human rights violations, and violent genocidal attacks on Palestine, where tens of thousands of Palestinian people have been killed, the decision to allow Israel to take part in this tournament is deplorable.
"Looking back at the 2022 Men's World Cup, Fifa suspended all Russian clubs and national teams from participating amid their conflict with Ukraine.
“To ignore the current situation in Israel and Palestine would be hugely hypocritical and amounts to sports-washing. "
A spokesperson of the Embassy of Israel to the UK said the councillor was trying to “sow division".
They said: “We are pleased that Hampden Park and the Scottish Women’s National Team will play host to Israel’s Women’s National Team later this month.
“It shows the tremendous strides being made to boost gender equality in the sport.
“Sport is a vehicle for positivity and an arena to promote tolerance and unity. We do not believe it should be politicised in such a way so as to sow division.”
Israel's assault on Gaza was triggered by Hamas’s October 7 attack on southern Israel that killed 1200 people and saw another 250 taken hostage.
The group still holds around 100 captives, with more than 30 thought to be dead.
Israel’s offensive in Gaza has killed more than 34,900 people, according to the local health ministry.
Pro-Palestinian protests are expected outside Hampden.
A number of ticket restrictions are already in place.
Only Scotland supporters' club members or those who have attended any of Scotland women's past four home matches can buy tickets.
Scotland head coach Pedro Martinez Losa (below) said his focus was on the games.
"That is an aspect we cannot control,” he told journalists at a press conference on Wednesday.
“As a head coach, I am not in control of these circumstances. We have to remain focused on qualifying for the Euros, giving the best to the team and protecting the players so we can perform at the best level.
“Where Uefa has put us in the position where we have to play these games and Israel is in the group. We cannot control anything else.”
“Whether I’m comfortable or not from my personal view, the job has to be done for Scotland and I remain focused on that," he added.
