A host of past and present Israel national team players will be gathering on Wednesday 26 October in Haifa to look at issues surrounding discrimination in society, alongside football bodies and civil society organisations.

The initiative, organised by New Israel Fund (NIF) anti-discrimination campaign Kick it Out Israel, consists of a conference and football tournament both looking to promote the power of football to bring Jewish and Arabs together and educate children about tolerance, mutual respect and social inclusion.

The day will be split in two sections. First, a panel featuring past and present footballers, will discuss the issues connected with racism in Israeli sport.

Speakers include Elisha Levy, manager of the Israeli national team, current internationals Dekel Keinan of Maccabi Haifa, Maccabi Haif captain Yossi Dora, Ahmed Abed, who plays for Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona along with female international Michal Rabitz and former national team midfielder Abbas Suan.

After the panel there will be a tournament at Kiryat Haim Stadium featuring young people involved in the projects that recently won special awards from Kick it Out.

The event, which is being organised as part of the Football People action weeks in collaboration with the national football association and the Israel Professional Footballers’ Association, also marks the 10th anniversary of the project.

Gal Karpel, Kick it Out Coordinator, said: “We are proud to take a central role in Fare action weeks. The involvement of senior players proves that the activities of to eradicate racism and to promote tolerance and coexistence in sport are vitally important. This is also an important opportunity to note that NIF is marking the tenth anniversary of Kick it Out.”

The event is being organised as part of the Football People action weeks in collaboration with the Israeli Football Association and the Israel Professional Footballers’ Association and will take place at Loe Baeck high School in Haifa.