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FIFA hosts panel on improving Israeli-Palestinian relations

The Associated Press Published Wednesday, August 26, 2015 1:26PM EDT

In this Wednesday, May 20, 2015 file photo, FIFA President Sepp Blatter kicks a ball during the inauguration of a football stadium in the village Dura Al-Qari' near the West Bank city of Ramallah. (AP/Majdi Mohammed, File)

Text:

ZURICH -- A FIFA panel aiming to improve Israeli-Palestinian football relations has met for the first time and agreed a follow-up session in the Middle East next month.

FIFA says it hosted the two football federations' leaders Wednesday with panel chairman Tokyo Sexwale, a South African businessman.

Sexwale, who some football officials want to be a FIFA presidential candidate, was appointed in May after Palestinians dropped a request for the FIFA Congress to vote on suspending Israel.

Palestinians say Israeli security restrictions limit movement of their players and visiting teams. Israeli football officials say they can't control political issues.

Palestinian federation president Jibril Rajoub says: "I'm very happy to start the process towards finding solutions."

Israeli federation president Ofer Eini says: "Both Mr. Rajoub and I want fair conditions for our footballers."