ABSTRACT

Palestine is widely associated with pictures drawn by the media showing war, radical fighters wielding machine guns and a democracy that suffers from internal strife. Whoever travels to the Holy Land to get to know the country and its people will scarcely find these pictures. Instead, they will find a country, basically rural, with donkeys and horses among the old Mercedes cars, with progressively thinking people who discuss politics and have an above-average

educational standard. A special effort is necessary, though, to master the challenges of a daily life which is seriously disrupted by the Israeli occupation and tensions between the Palestinian parties. In a life that is restricted by politics and military action, there are many surprising developments. One of these is the women’s national football team. The authors would like to present a holistic picture of the challenges encountered by young women who play a maledominated sport like football in a Muslim society – moreover, one which is beset by problems of conflict. It is impossible to trace and explore all the complex influences that affect the situation of the team, but this contribution is meant as an attempt to raise awareness for the opportunities and challenges of women’s sport in Palestine.