Arsenal launch youth soccer schools in Israel

Arsenal launched five youth soccer schools in Israel on Monday in the club's latest attempt to spread its net around the globe.

The official launch took place in Kiryat Ono, a middle class suburb of Tel Aviv, but the four other schools are all in less wealthy areas in Israel with predominantly Arab populations.

"Football can be used as a small part in conflict resolution and this is why we are so pleased to be here," Alan Sefton, who heads the Arsenal programme, said.

The schools, which opened earlier this year, are situated in the Arab towns of Tira and Umm el-Fahm in central Israel, Rahat, an impoverished Bedouin town in Negev desert and in the mixed Jewish-Arab region of Misgav in the hills of Galilee.

Arsenal's involvement in Israel began at the request of the Misgav Regional Council, a previously untroubled area in the north of the country which was hit by the effects of the Palestinian uprising five years ago.

Israeli security forces shot dead 13 Israeli Arabs in October 2000 when they tried to quell demonstrations in support of the Palestinians.

Sefton said on Monday that the programme in Misgav, where Jewish and Bedouin Arab children train together, has been a great success.

"[The council] now say that it is one of the most successful cultural projects in bringing people together in that region, and that's terrific," he said.

"We are very glad that Arsenal decided to make this project in Israel and we can see a big boost to our kids... to try to be like the Gunners," former Israeli great Mordechai Spiegler said.

Amnon Raz, head of Israel's coaches' association who is in charge of the project locally, said: "There has been full cooperation and tremendous interest from the local authorities, both Jewish and Arab."

Players who stand out will be picked for a mixed Arab and Jewish team for next August's annual Arsenal International Soccer Festival in Surrey, south of London.

The festival brings together youth teams from around the world for matches and coaching under an Arsenal umbrella.

Arsenal also have a soccer school in Egypt and are talking with parties in Jordan and Dubai, home to the club's main sponsors Emirates Airlines. An Iraqi team played at last year's Arsenal festival.