Without such projects children in Israel and the Palestinian Authority would have no chance to meet each other.
Baker, 10-years-old from Yatta in the West Bank
"I am the only one of my siblings who is participating in such a program and I have 11 brothers and sisters. I have been in the program for 8 months now. At first, I was terrified of the Israelis but then when I got to know them I was no longer scared of them. I even have an Israeli friend called Amir.
My coach is Issa, he is a great coach. I have never missed a training session so far and I feel like I have improved my football skills in these last eight months. But I think the Israelis play better football than us Palestinians. I like playing on the computer and I like races. I have learned a couple of words in Hebrew, like the colours, Lavan, Adom and also some greeting words like Shalom."
Yahav, 14 years-old from Kiryat Gat in Israel
"Before I first met the Palestinians I didn't think it was anything different or special. I wasn't afriad, I wasn't happy; I wasn't excited - I hadn't really thought about it. I try not to think about the conflict and I didn't really think about peace.
After I joined the project I began to get to know Palestinian girls and I realised how important it is not to be apathetic towards the situation. I love my Palestinian friends and I've gotten really close to some of them. They are sweet and happy girls who love life and care about peace.
Now, when people ask how I feel before my meetings with the Palestinian girls I say 'happy, excited and hopeful'"
Hamam, 10-years-old from Yatta in the West Bank
"I have been in this program for about 6 months now. My relatives are also in this program, Tamer and Tarek. My parents are supporting me and encouraging me to stick to the program. They want me to make Israeli friends. My coach is Saer, he is a great coach. I think I have improved my football skills since entering this program.
I have three brothers and two sisters. All I do in my free time is play football. Before meeting the Israelis I didnt like them. I was scared of them because I didnt know much about them. All I knew was that they killed people. Now I know I was wrong, that they are just like us and I think they are nice people. "
Linoy, 13-years-old from Kiryat Gat in Israel
"Football for me is a family tradition- I love playing sport, I love being an athletic girl and feeling confident. When I joined the program I only thought of it in terms of sport- I was excited to have a new coach and become a better player- but I never thought for a second that it would change me as a person.
When I first found out that I had to attend joint activities with Palestinians I was scared, I was mad at them for putting me in a risky situation; I didn't want to share my most favourite thing in the world, something that made me so happy, with people who I thought hated me. I didn't think that football could help to build friendships between Israelis and Palestinians.
Our first meeting was strange. Both sides were very uneasy - the Israeli girls stuck together and the Palestinians did the same. I went home that day feeling hopeless and upset.
But our meetings got easier and then I was chosen to participate in a trip to Canada. The trip was amazing- I spent everyday with Palestinian girls, ate every meal with them, played every game with them- we talked about peace, about politics, nail polish and clothes... I didn't think I could ever look at them the same way I look at my Israeli friends but that is exactly how I do so them now - we're just the same."
Ismail, 10-years-old from Yatta in the West Bank
"I am 10 years old and I have five sisters and one brother. Ive been in this peace program for 2 months now and Im a football fanatic. I support Spain in the world cup. I want them to win. In my free time I either play football with friends or my dad trains me.
I used to be scared of Israelis because I only knew Israeli soldiers. However now I think they are nice. I am still a bit scared of them but Im sure that once I get to know them better I will no longer be scared of them. I know some Hebrew words like, Rosh and Kadur which mean head and ball. My coach is Issa and he is really nice and he trains us well but I still like dad better as a coach."
Liron, 15-years-old from Kiryat Gat
"At first, before I met the Palestinian girls, I thought we would fight more than play together. In fact, it was entirely different. Totally different from what you see on television. On television they always show the hatred that the Arabs feel towards the Jews and I'm sure that on Palestinian television it is exactly the other way around - they must show that the Jews hate the Arabs.
In our reality with the Palestinian friends, we can communicate and play together. I feel like we are just alike, only the language separates us. In our Arabic lessons, we have learned how to communicate and if a girl falls, immediately one of her friends helps her up. The bottom line is that we are very similar.
My dream is be successful in both football and my studies. I want to prove that it is possible to be a football player and be smart. There is a stigma in my town and I guess throughout the world that football players (and female players in particular) cannot be successful as a competitive player and be successful in school at the same time. My dream is to prove otherwise."
Snir, 9-years-old from Yeruham in Israel
"I feel good and it’s a lot of fun to play with Palestinian kids. It is very different than what you see on television. On television it’s fights and shells and shootings. In sport it’s very different when we play I don’t fight, and even if we do fight we talk and make up -
Today, a Palestinian boy kicked my leg by mistake and I fell down. He helped me up and asked me if I am OK. Afterwards we made up and continued playing. I study Arabic in the project and today I used it on the court. I asked my Palestinian friends in Arabic to pass the ball to me."
Zainab, 13-years-old from Beit Safafa
Soccer Unites Us - that's why I have so many friends. I think that soccer is necessary in life, but my hobbies also include drawing, reading, computer games and other sports. My coaches names are Ali and Nihad- I like them and they are very good with us. Sport is healthy- it helps our brains to grow, our bodies to move and makes us become smart.
I have been a member of the project for 4 years now- in the beginning I didn't know anything about Jewish people, but now I like them and have a lot of Jewish friends.
I think that sport changes our lives for the best. It is good for Palestinian and Israeli children to play together and to love one another as human beings.
Nasser, 14-years-old from Hebron
"I am 14 years old and the second eldest in my family. I have 3 brothers and 3 sisters and I have never been abroad. In my free time I like to watch TV and play on the computer. I love watching Turkish dramas and the Mondial World Cup. Im a huge fan of Spain. I have been in this program for four months now. I feel like I have gotten much better at football and that my skills have been sharpened, thanks to our coach.
My parents know about the program and they are enthusiastic about me making Israeli friends. I was scared of meeting the Israeli kids, since I had never seen or met Israeli kids my age before, and the only Israelis I had met were the soldiers and they scared me. Now after meeting them I am not as scared as I used to be. I am still a bit scared but now I know that they are only kids just like me and I want to become their friend.
So far I have made only one friend, his name is Avi. Avi and I communicate through signs since I dont speak Hebrew and he doesnt speak Arabic. I try to talk to him using the few football related words I know in Hebrew, like: rosh, kadoor, adom, shoeer, etc.
I hope I can continue in this program forever. What I wish to gain from this program is Israeli friends, play better football, and learn the Hebrew language. And I hope somehow this can bring peace.
Eden, 16 years-old from Kiryat Gat
"At first, before I met my Palestinian friends, I was really scared because of the political situation. I was scared that we are going to argue, fight, and maybe even use violence. But after we met, I realized that we are all the same. We even have the same fears - They were afraid of the same things just as I was Many times I have passed the ball to my Palestinian teammates and they have scored - There is always a great sense of joy - everyone jumps and cheers...
As an apprentice coach, I enjoy taking part in this program and I feel good to combine my passion for football together with the importance of meeting and collaborating with my Palestinian friends We are continuously in touch through messenger and facebook and I look forward for each joint activity in order to meet my friends."
Yahav, 14, Israeli
Baker, 10, Palestinian
Linoy, 13, Israeli
Hamam, 10, Palestinian
Ismail, 10, Palestinian
Liron, 15, Israeli
Zainab, 13, Palestinian
Snir, 9, Israeli
Nasser, 14, Palestinian
Eden, 16, Israeli
