Businessman Kobi Sidi Launches Sports Initiative to Foster Jewish-Arab Coexistence Among Children

Israeli businessman Kobi Sidi, known for his association with Atletico Madrid and former CEO of Hapoel Tel Aviv football club, has initiated a project aimed at promoting coexistence between Jewish and Arab children through sports. Sidi highlighted the demographic growth of Israel's Arab population, which currently numbers around two million and is expected to reach approximately 9.2 million in 14 years, with about 33% being children under 14. He emphasized that hatred from extremists on both sides is increasing and will not lead to progress.

The initiative involves creating mixed football teams of Jewish and Arab children from different regions, such as Nazareth and Afula, to play together. Additionally, Sidi plans to organize joint attendance at major football matches, bringing hundreds of Arab and Jewish children together to foster shared experiences and mutual support. He also aims to expand the program to other sports and cultural events, including a proposed joint marathon for Jewish and Arab children.

Sidi revealed plans to propose to an American businessman the establishment of a "Peace Stadium" named after his late father, where Jewish and Arab children would play together. He recounted visiting Jerusalem's Old City and meeting Arabs expressing hope for peace and coexistence, as well as assisting Druze victims of a Hezbollah missile attack in Majdal Shams. Sidi stressed that the project targets children living within the Green Line holding blue Israeli ID cards, aiming to build hope and mutual respect among the younger generation, as adults are often entrenched in conflict.

He concluded that fostering coexistence through sports and shared activities can cultivate a generation of Jews and Arabs living together in peace and respect, countering the prevailing hatred and division.