Oday Aboushi Selected by New York Jets

Oday Aboushi walks with his sister.

University of Virginia’s Offensive linesman Oday Aboushi has been selected by selected by the New York Jets in the fifth round of the NFL Draft on Saturday. The selection is being widely hailed as that of making possible for the first ever Palestinian to play in the NFL. He has been described by the news media as a devout Muslim who fasts in Ramadan despite a gruelling training schedule. He will join a small number of Muslims who currently play in the NFL.

He is the ninth of ten children born to Palestinian parents who immigrated to New York from their town of Beit Hanina in the occupied West Bank. Aboushi speaks English and Arabic.

Among his nine siblings are: three lawyers, two doctors, one college professor, one accountant and a nurse. His community isproud of their accomplishments.

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