Hapoel Katamon: Football club brings Arabs and Israelis together

By James Masters

Updated 1615 GMT (0015 HKT) August 26, 2015

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Hapoel Katamon has breathed new life into Israeli football with an all-inclusive approach. The Jerusalem-based club has won admirers from across Europe for programs which bring together children from vastly different backgrounds.

Photos: Hope for peace in the Middle East?

Bridging the divide – Hapoel Katamon has breathed new life into Israeli football with an all-inclusive approach. The Jerusalem-based club has won admirers from across Europe for programs which bring together children from vastly different backgrounds.

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Katamon is a fan-run club. It holds elections each year, with fans voting for their own representatives to sit alongside private investors on the board.

Photos: Hope for peace in the Middle East?

Looking up – Katamon is a fan-run club. It holds elections each year, with fans voting for their own representatives to sit alongside private investors on the board.

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Hapoel Katamon does not own its own stadium or training facilities -- it rents from the local council. It offers a range of programs for local children, including village leagues, a local academy and a girls' team.

Photos: Hope for peace in the Middle East?

Fever pitch – Hapoel Katamon does not own its own stadium or training facilities -- it rents from the local council. It offers a range of programs for local children, including village leagues, a local academy and a girls' team.