Israel vs. Palestine in the West Bank? The IRA vs. the Ulster Unionists in Belfast? Italy vs. Ireland in the '94 World Cup? That was nothing. Israel and Ireland squared off last week in a World Cup-qualifying soccer match. It's almost as though Israel beat the Palestinians, and then declared "we got winner" of The Troubles.
Indeed, the soccer game was as much a grueling, seemingly never-ending stalemate as both nations' long-running wars: the game ended in a 2-2 tie.
Posted by Stephen Silver at June 7, 2005 11:18 PMSorry to nitpick, but the Troubles technically took place in Northern Ireland, which is a part of the UK, which doesn't have anything to do with the Irish soccer team.
Though lots of folks take common cause with the Arab/Israeli conflict, with Republicans siding with the Palestinians and Unionists supporting Israel.
Posted by: Emily at June 10, 2005 07:01 PM