Bethlehem – Ma’an – A Greek delegation of veteran footballers and musicians left the occupied Palestinian territories on Saturday evening, following a week of events and visits organized by the Greek organization Struggle Until Victory Forever.

The delegation included Greek singer Vasilis Lekkas and a number of Greece’s members of parliament.

On Thursday, a friendly football match was held between veteran Palestinian and Greek footballers at the Feisal Husseini Stadium in Ar-Ram, the Palestinian team winning 3-1.

The Greek delegation toured Palestinian refugee camps and the Israeli Separation Wall, in addition to late President Yasser Arafat’s grave in Ramallah, where they placed flowers.

A tour of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem was postponed on Friday until the afternoon, as the Struggle Until Victory, Forever delegation participated in the Bil’in and Ni’lin protests against Israel’s Separation Wall. The delegation then visited the church and met with local personalities including former president of the Palestinian Football Federation George Ghattas, mayor of Beit Sahour Hani Al-Hayek, and deputy of the Palestinian Legislative Council Fuad Al-Kokaly.

Panses Pavlides, the head of the delegation, expressed his contentment for being in Palestine, "We are here to be with you in your battle against the occupation and you are always in our hearts."

After his visit Pavlides told Ma'an more about the organization and Greek solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Ma’an: Please tell us more about the Struggle Until Victory Forever organization?

Pavlides: Struggle Until Victory Forever is a Greek organization with 150 members, including athletes, artists and engineers. The organization’s name was taken from a quote by the late leader Ernesto Che Guevara. Our headquarters are in Athens. We contribute to the struggle of oppressed and occupied people by using sports, particularly football, as a means of struggle and to break the siege. We decided to come to Palestine because the people live under occupation and are subject to Israeli bullying, an apartheid wall and settlement activity.

Ma’an: Can we expect the Palestinian football team to visit Greece?

Pavlides: Actually, we hope that the Palestinian football team will come and play in Greece. When we go back, we will invite the Palestinian community in Greece to play a friendly match with us in support of the Palestinian people and to send out a political message through football.

Ma’an: How do the Greek people view the Palestinian people?

Pavlides: The relationship between the Greek and Palestinian people is like a brotherhood. The late President Arafat and the Greek president contributed to developing the relationship between the two peoples.