Will Allen Iverson make the trip?
Photo: AP
NBA stars to promote peace
Hoopsters set to hold basketball classes for Israeli, Palestinian children
NEW YORK - A delegation of past and present National Basketball Association stars is scheduled to arrive in Israel soon to offer basketball classes to Israeli and Palestinian children, Yedioth Ahronoth has learned.
Rushing for peace
By Alan D. Abbey
NY Giants star running back, admittedly unknown here, on his first visit to Israel, hopes to impress spirit of cooperation and teamwork among Jews, Arabs
The Israeli consulate in New York, in association with American Jewish organizations and the Peres Center for Peace, is organizing the visit.
Consul-General Aryeh Mekel met with NBA Commissioner David Stern, who gave the initiative the green light.
Last week, a meeting was held between a senior NBA vice president and Fran Oppenheim, a representative for The Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations, which has decided to sponsor the visit, in a bid to promote the initiative.
An agent representing numerous NBA star players attended the meeting as well.
The Consul for Media and Public Affairs Ido Aharoni said the possibility of incorporating the visit with the Peres Center for Peace’s sports project is also being weighed.
He added that the identities of the stars are being kept under wraps for the time being so as not to thwart the project.
The Peres Center for Peace said in response, "No date has been set yet, but the Americans have expressed a willingness to cooperate and send six players to Israel.”
