Arsenal to build bridges in Israel

English football powerhouse to unveil 5 soccer schools across Israel
in bid to bring Jewish, Arab communities closer together

Reuters

Arsenal will start next week with the twin aims of building momentum in the Champions League and building bridges between young Jews and Arabs in Israel.

While the spotlight will be on their Group B game against Thun in Switzerland, the north London club will officially unveil five soccer schools across Israel as part of a wider 'Arsenal in the Community' program.

>snip

Arsenal's involvement in Israel began at the request of the Misgav regional council in a previously untroubled area of Galilee which was hit by the intifada five years ago.

Israeli security forces shot dead 13 Israeli Arabs in October 2000 when they tried to quell demonstrations in the north in support of a Palestinian uprising that had grown violent.

In the aftermath, football has proved to be a way of reaching out to the Jewish and Arab communities.

More at;
Ynet

football tends to bring out both the best and worse in communities..fans can and are violent towards the 'other" and yet defend their own even when it crosses racial lines....

this need for "identity" and group think can get really weird at times.