Israeli-Arab Youth Bridge Divides Through Football Camp in Givat Haviva
Since 2016, the social-educational initiative "Football Camp for Peace" in Givat Haviva has been bringing together Jewish and Arab youth from nearby communities such as Pardes Hanna-Karkur and the Basma Regional Council (Barta'a, Ein as-Sahala, and Muawiya) to promote coexistence through sports. Funded by the UK-based Bloom Foundation linked to Brighton FC, the project aims to break down barriers by fostering shared language, cultural understanding, and teamwork among 44 children (24 Arabs and 20 Jews) who participated in the latest camp in July 2026.
Zakaria Mahamid, the camp director, explains that despite parental fears and political tensions, especially following the October 7, 2023 events, the camp resumed in 2025 with mixed Jewish and Arab coaching staff. The program includes joint football training, language lessons teaching football terms in Hebrew and Arabic, cultural exchanges such as shared meals and holiday education, and visits to sites like the Sammy Ofer Stadium and Wadi Nisnas.
The camp also hosted notable figures including Iyad Abu Abid from Bnei Sakhnin and Israel Tzarfati, professional manager of Hapoel Hadera, who conducted workshops. The initiative emphasizes that football serves as a unifying tool, enabling children to connect beyond language and cultural divides. Mahamid recalls a poignant moment when an Arab child passed the ball to a Jewish child who scored, and they embraced, symbolizing the camp's mission.
Ola Najmi Yosef, head of Givat Haviva's Jewish-Arab Peace Center, highlights the camp's role in countering societal polarization by creating a safe space for interaction and mutual respect. Despite the harsh realities outside, parents courageously send their children to the camp, hoping to nurture a more peaceful future. Participants like 15-year-old Ali Shamiya from Kafr Jatt and 12-year-old Peleg Madmoni Yazdi from Pardes Hanna share how the camp helped them overcome language barriers and build friendships.
The camp plans to continue expanding its impact, with 18 students (nine Jewish and nine Arab) and two coaches scheduled for a training camp in San Marino on August 23, 2026. Coaches and organizers see this as a small but vital step toward fostering hope and coexistence in Israeli society.
