Celtic’s plans to complete a £2 million deal with Israeli side Maccabi Netanya for Jocelin Ta Bi have come under increasing scrutiny following a formal appeal from the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel…
The organisation has contacted the club directly, urging senior figures at Celtic to reconsider and bring the proposed transfer to a halt.
PACBI – which helped establish the international Boycott Divestment and Sanctions movement – made its approach after reports emerged that Celtic are edging closer to singing Ivory Coast winger Jocelin Ta Bi.
Conall McGinty raised this matter on The Celtic Star yesterday and the link to his excellent article is below…
READ THIS…Why Celtic trading with Israeli club Maccabi Netanya is unacceptable
Maccabi Netanya are controlled by Aliya Capital Partners – a firm whose portfolio includes a significant holding in XTEND – a company known for manufacturing military drones for Israel.
Writing on X, PACBI outlined its opposition to the move, warning of the wider implications associated with completing the deal.
A statement read: ‘As Palestinians, we are deeply troubled by reports that Celtic FC is close to completing a £2M deal for a player from Israeli club Maccabi Netanya. Celtic must stop this deal. This is not just an ordinary football transfer deal. Israeli clubs are not neutral sporting bodies.
‘Maccabi Netanya is owned by Aliya Capital Partners, which has invested $30 million in Israeli drone company XTEND. Since the start of Israel’s ongoing genocide against 2.3M Palestinians in Gaza, XTEND has sold thousands of drones, including armed drones, to the Israeli military.
‘Celtic fans have long been a source of inspiration for Palestinians through their unwavering support for our liberation struggle. The Green Brigade’s tifos calling to end Israel’s Gaza genocide and to expel Israel from world football have been echoed in stadiums around the world.
‘Celtic Football Club should refuse to do business with a team representing apartheid Israel — a regime committing genocide in Gaza, killing tens of thousands of Palestinians, including 800+ sportspeople, and systematically damaging or destroying all sporting infrastructure.
‘A club born out of suffering of British colonial famine should never align with a regime deliberately using starvation as a weapon. Celtic has a choice in how it spends its supporters’ money. Funding those complicit in the genocide of Palestinians shouldn’t be on the table.’
As Palestinians, we are deeply troubled by reports that @CelticFC is close to completing a £2M deal for a player from Israeli club Maccabi Netanya. Celtic must stop this deal.
This is not just an ordinary football transfer deal. Israeli clubs are not neutral sporting bodies. pic.twitter.com/9lQ23fMRhy
— PACBI – BDS movement (@PACBI) January 8, 2026
Conor Spence
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29 odd activist has caused Celtic trouble by habging ariunfmd the verge they have nithing to do wuth Celtuc and they will let kniwn yiu chased one player from Celtic you dont repeat it
Gibberish!
Go and get Jill to help you out!