Minnesota has the Vikings. Notre Dame has the Fighting Irish.
Well, the Christian Palestinians were so powerful, and prominent, in Chile, that in 1920 they founded their own soccer (fútbol) club: Palestino, or CD Palestino.
CD Palestino = Club Deportivo Palestino
It just means Palestinian Sports Club.
In 1920!
1920?
Yes! 1920!
WATCH OFFICIAL FIFA DOCUMENTARY
(Must watch on YouTube – Can’t post)
Posted on YouTube: August 20, 2020
The 100th anniversary of the official founding of the club
Even though officially started by Palestinians in Chile in 1920 – there is evidence that the team goes back to 1916. The team was originally ethnically centered around Palestinians, but has a mainstream multi-ethnic fan base today.
Palestino fans are highly politicized now; and their fans – not all of whom are Arab – will wave the Palestinian flag. The fans will also shoot up black, red, green, and white flares, which are the four colors of the Palestinian team and flag.
These fans are Christians – about 99% or more of Chile’s Arabs are Christian. The Palestino team jersey will often have a CRISTAL (beer) logo. Remember that alcohol is not accepted in Islam.
No burqas or hijabs are to be seen, though stylish Keffiyiahs are worn as a sign of solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
And not all of the fans are Arab in ancestry!
Most of the fans probably do not even speak Arabic and are generations removed from the Mideast. However, they still have a strong ethnic identification. I cannot vouch for how politicized they were decades ago. But they always wore the red, green, white, and black of the battle flag of the Arab Revolt in World War I, which is the source of the Palestinian flag.
Los Baisanos – Chilean Soccer’s Intifada
I have no idea if the upside down star (between Los and Baisanos) has any hidden meaning
It can mean evil – but I am not sure if that was their intent
Their fans refer to themselves as Los Baisanos, which is a play on the Spanish word Paisanos, which means [fellow] countrymen. However, their Arab ancestors could not pronounce the P, which does not exist in Arabic, and would have mispronounced it as Baisanos. Generations later, they honor their ancestors by calling themselves Los Baisanos, and taking pride in their ancestors mispronunciation. You will also notice they use the very controversial term INTIFADA. They have become highly polticized against Israel.
This team has won national championships in Chile in 1955 and 1978. It even has its own cable program. And, they have a decent theme fight song.
Roberto Bishara, a team member and son of a Palestinian immigrant, has played on the National Palestinian Soccer Team as an exchange player.
Roberto Bishara: Soccer is more powerful than bullets (In Spanish)
They have a large fan base, on the other side of the planet, in the contested areas, where they are considered a second national soccer team for Palestine.
Posted on YouTube: Dec 18, 2016
One thing that went unsaid in the video above is that the CD Palestino players are probably 100% Christian, while the Palestinian national team players are probably 100% Muslim. Historically, the Palestinians who went to Chile came from then Christian towns, so there is that bifurcation.
The team is famous all over the Mideast, and they have become sort of an international phenomenom. Those who support the Palestinian cause root for CD Palestino.
Posted on YouTube: July 10, 2013
Mucho más que fútbol = Much more than footall (soccer)
The team has a major following in the Mideast, where they have become a second national team for Palestine.
Their new motto is:
MÁS QUE UN EQUIPO, TODO UN PUEBLO
(more than a team, a whole people)
It has become somewhat of an international phenomenon, as this painter on the wall between Israel and the contested areas shows. CD Palestino trascends Chile and the Mideast, identifying with both Chileans and Palestinians.
?? Nuestros amigos de @walledoffhotel nos regalan hoy una pintura en la Caritas Street en plena ciudad de Belén ??? El artista impregnó en el muro nuestro escudo por los 100 años, demostrando la conexión entre Chile y Palestina ??? Our friends at @walledoffhotel today give us a painting on Caritas Street in the city of Bethlehem ?? ? The artist painted on the wall our shield for 100 years, demonstrating the connection between Chile and Palestine ?? أصدقائنا من فندق ذا وولد اوف قدموا لنا اليوم لوحة في شارع الكاريتاس في مدينة بيت لحم? رسم الفنان على الحائط درعنا بمناسبة 100 عام ، مما يدل على العلاقة المتينة بين تشيلي وفلسطين ?
Posted by Club Deportivo Palestino on Thursday, August 20, 2020
They have become a very highly politicized and famous Chilean football team.
HOW DO THE ISRAELIS FEEL ABOUT THIS?!
The Israelis are furious at Chile’s Palestinians for supporting the Palestinian cause. They are quick to remind the “Chilestinians” that their ancestors were Christian, and that the Mideast now persecutes Christians. (Click for an article).
Yes, it does seem insane. Many of the Chilestinians’ ancestors – who were Christian – fled the area in the past, often to get away from Muslim rule. They have retained a surreal, almost imaginary memory of their ancestral homeland – forgetting why their ancestors fled to Chile in the first place.
But they have totally identified with the Palestinian cause.
It makes no sense to me … but then I am not an Arab.
May 12, 2017 – Edited: Moved page in menu – corrected links and text, removed some video, added text, image, and new video.
September 3, 2020 – Edited: Changed video. Made text changes.