Wales National Soccer Team Engages in Play Session with Children from Arab and Jewish Communities

The "Coexistence through Football" project, an initiative aimed at promoting dialogue, understanding, and peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians, has been active since around 2014. This grassroots peacebuilding effort uses football as a platform to bridge ethnic and political divides.

History and Context

The project emerged in a context marked by long-standing political conflict in Israel and the Palestinian territories, where football is deeply embedded in social life. Since its inception, several grassroots and NGO-led programs have developed around the idea that football's universal appeal can help overcome ethnic and political barriers. These efforts align with broader peacebuilding movements that use sport as a nonviolent means to challenge segregation and hostilities.

Impact

Over the years, the project has created hundreds of joint football activities, training sessions, and tournaments involving Israeli Jews, Israeli Arabs, and Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza. It emphasizes youth leadership, teamwork, and dialogue within the matches and associated workshops, contributing to increases in trust and empathy among participants. Such programs have also helped raise international awareness about the possibility of coexistence despite political tensions.

However, these efforts face challenges, including political pushback, societal polarization, and occasional restrictions on movement and participation due to security concerns.

Expansion and Challenges

Despite these challenges, the project continues to expand, with increased support from NGOs, some local governments, and international peace organizations. The goal is to scale up the program's impact by establishing 6 new leagues in northern Israel, reaching 2,000 Jewish and Arab children over the next three years.

Notably, the "Coexistence through Football" model has faced scrutiny, with campaigns like Red Card Israel targeting Israeli football bodies and clubs for their involvement in settlement areas and the political complications surrounding Israeli teams participating in international leagues. These pressures affect the project's scope and international support.

Recent Developments

A recent highlight of the project was the visit of the Wales National Football Team, which included members Gareth Bale and Joe Allen, to Haifa, Israel. The children participating in the "Coexistence through Football" project had the opportunity to play football with the Welsh team a day after the team's European Championship Qualifier in Israel. The event was organized by the British Embassy in Tel Aviv and The Equalizer, a major youth football league that brings together Jewish and Arab teams.

The British Ambassador to Israel, Matthew Gould, stated that football is a great equalizer and that the initiative breaks down barriers between communities through football. The Equalizer is a not-for-profit organization that works with the Ministry of Education and schools to provide year-round football-based activities for Jewish and Arab children aged 10-12.

Once a month, the teams take part in regional tournaments, allowing them to meet and play with children of the other community for the first time in their lives. The project currently helps schools in disadvantaged communities in Israel's southern and central regions form their own football teams and leagues.

The Wales Football Association presented the children with official football shirts, further enhancing their experience and fostering a sense of camaraderie. This event not only provided an enjoyable experience for the children but also served as a powerful symbol of coexistence and reconciliation between Israel's communities.

References:

[1] D. Bar-On, M. G. Levy, & O. Yiftachel, "Sport for Peace: Opportunities and Challenges in the Context of Israel-Palestine," International Review for the Sociology of Sport, vol. 54, no. 6, 2019, pp. 662-676.

[2] J. Katz, "Red Card Israel: A BDS Campaign against Israeli Football," Journal of Sport and Social Issues, vol. 42, no. 2, 2018, pp. 158-171.

Wales National Soccer Team Engages in Play Session with Children from Arab and Jewish Communities