Members of the Jerusalem All Stars Team celebrating after a win. Photo: Fran Meckler
The All-Stars season has officially started! Our joint Palestinian-Israeli teams are challenging the status quo and setting new records by taking their friendships and team spirit into the public sphere by giving all they’ve got to compete in the Israel Basketball Association’s elite youth league. This year, PeacePlayers has six All-Stars teams (including our first boys’ team!), and they are off to a great start.
With the cooperation of Hapo’el Jerusalem, a mens basketball club, PeacePlayers engaged some new boys interested in PeacePlayers’ mission. The introduction of the Jerusalem Boys All-Stars team has come at an important time because tensions are high in Jerusalem due to the increased violence. We hope all our All-Stars teams rise above the difficulties surrounding them by building strong connections and bonds with their teammates.
Nahariya/Tamra All Star team’s first game of the season
Since the start of the All-Stars program in 2010, our teams have come a long way, winning the under-18 championship in their division. The start of the All-Stars initiative was a pivotal and groundbreaking move for this region. By taking the concept of ‘twinning’ and making it into a full time pursuit, PeacePlayers created the All-Stars team. The organization recognized the youths’ need for another step in the direction of building communities, breaking down barriers, and advancing basketball skills. And an integrated team does just that. PeacePlayers—Middle East also has taken into account the limited access to organized sports for young girls. In Israel, only about 25 percent of participants in competitive sport are women, a number lower than the average in both the Western world and the world at large. PPI has been filling the void by giving young women the opportunity to take part in competitive league teams. The All Stars teams practice and play together at least three times a week, making them a close-knit community.
“Most people who saw us didn’t understand what we were doing. Their reactions were also different. Sometimes I would hear them praising us for what we are doing and other times I would hear the crowd make racist comments.” – Noy, All Stars team member
Jerusalem All Stars Team Narot Alef. Photo: Fran Meckler
When the All Stars program began it didn’t take too much time for word to get around. Having an integrated team, Palestinian and Israeli, makes these players unique. In fact, for the first time Palestinian girls from East Jerusalem played in the Israel Basketball Association Youth League. For most people not associated with the PeacePlayers community having a mixed team was a bit bizarre. Yet, the players didn’t let the audiences’ doubts and bewilderment stop them from reaching the top and even expanding. For Noy, who plays on an All Stars team, her favorite part of playing on a mixed league team is showing people what PeacePlayers is all about. Traveling from city to city, gym to gym means that people, who otherwise wouldn’t, get to witness what PPI is all about.
Nahariya/Tamra All Stars team gather for a huddle after practice
The beauty of the All-Stars program is that the power and team spirit isn’t only for the team. The crowd gets to witness the harmony and corporation first-hand as well. Fans from both teams watch as their players put aside the conflict and engage in a spirited manner, building true and strong connections. And if the players can do it, so can the crowd.
