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Arab-Israeli soccer players offer symbol of coexistence

With tensions between Jews and Arabs in Israel reaching sad records, Israeli-Arab soccer players carry the (perhaps heavy) mission of demonstrating coexistence.
Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur scores his team's fifth goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Europa League playoff match between Tottenham Hotspur and Maccabi Haifa at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, United Kingdom, Oct. 01, 2020.

May 12 was a terrible day and night for Jewish-Arab relations in Israel. Close to 400 people were detained by police following intense Jewish-Arab violence and riots that erupted across the country. Jews and Arabs were attacked by extremists on both parties.

Israeli soccer, including the Israeli national team, reflects Israeli society, especially relations between Jews and Arabs. In recent years, there has been a true change in official institutions’ treatments of expressions of racism and hatred both toward Black players and between Jews and Arabs.  

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