The Peres Centre’s Peace Team
In January 2008 the Australian Friends Association of the Peres Centre launched a project to create a joint Palestinian-Israeli Peace Team to compete in the AFL (Australian Football League) International Cup in August 2008 in Australia.
This ambitious project brought together a diverse group of Israeli and Palestinian players with different backgrounds, religions and political beliefs. Many of them had never heard of, let alone played, Australian Rules Football. In the short time that the players trained together, friendships and partnerships formed.
The Peace Team won two out of their five games, beating China and Finland, and demonstrated that everyday Israelis and Palestinians could play together and trust each other.
The Australian Embassy in Israel was proud to be associated with the team in the lead-up to the International Cup. Australian Ambassador to Israel, H.E. James Larsen, as well as other members of the Australian Embassy attended training matches in support of this initiative, aimed at building tangible and peaceful bridges between Israelis and Palestinians.