New cricket initiative unites Israeli, Palestinian children

Children will meet each month in Beersheba for cricket matches and a structured program of peace activities.

By JOANNA PARASZCZUK
Not even torrential rain, 60- mile per hour winds and sandstorms could stop play on Sunday, as 60 Palestinian and Israeli children got together in Beersheba for a game of cricket – and a lesson in mutual cooperation.
The group of five to 13-year-olds from Yeroham and Dimona and Palestinian towns Yatta and Samoa met for the official launch of Cricket 4 Peace, a joint initiative of the Israel Cricket Association (ICA), the Peres Center for Peace and al-Quds Association for Democracy and Dialog.
ICA Chairman Stanley Perlman said the project uses cricket to promote mutual cooperation.
As well as twice-weekly sessions in their schools, the children will meet each month in Beersheba for cricket matches and a structured program of peace activities.
“The initiative gives children the opportunity to learn the wonderful game of cricket and the added values of tolerance and peace,” Peres Center for Peace Sports Manager Tami Hay Sagiv added.
For most participating children, the launch event was the first ever time they had picked up a cricket bat – or spoken to one of their Israeli or Palestinian peers.
“It was very moving to watch the kids playing cricket and making friends,” said Perlman.
A full article will appear in the Magazine at a later date.