So hold on. You're arguing that first the conflict has to end, then the two sides can begin to respect each other.

That seems completely counter-intuitive. Surely if both sides knew and respected each other more, there would be no conflict.

How exactly do you hope to ever bring about equality by preventing Israelis and Palestinians from participating in joint activities as equals?

In fact, Sabawi's argument is pretty much that it's a bad thing for Israelis and Palestinians to be treated the same way on the peace team because they'll then be treated differently when they get back. I.e. as long as there is a problem, you can never allow the two sides to interact normally.

That kind of zero-sum thinking is why there is no peace. Shame on you Sabawi.

It is apparent that all commentators support the concept of the Peace Team.
And all commentators, with the exception of Samah Sabawi, support the attendance of the Peace Team at the AFL's International Competition.
Therefore, all 'pro-Palestinians' and 'pro-Israelis' commenting on Ms Sabawi's article are in agreement on that issue.
i.e. only a handful like Ms Sabawi have a problem with the Team's participation in the competition.
So .............
rather than focus on differences between the small numbers of extremists, let's facilitate the moderate majority's desire to live together, safely and with tolerance.
We should all get out there and support these efforts to foster peace and re-conciliation:
Just like the Peace Team, we can be both pro-Palestine and pro-Israel!

Samah you speak with such thinly veiled contempt. Here you sit safe in a country which like Israel is not perfect - still it allows for freedom of expression as does Israel. You are not pro Palestine you simply hate Jews and like Hamas you abuse you power regardless of who is harmed and I imagine you would then go so far as to say something ridicilous like....some of my best friends are Jews.

I agree with SC. More to that point, where have the current methods of negotiations got anyone? Both sides have of the Israel Palestinian game have lost. Having played a lot of team sports you will find that it creates an understanding between people. In AFL, you rely on your team mates (all of them) to combine to win. There should be more of these combined efforts.

It is interesting to read the comments made by Israel's apologists and "hasbara" propagandists. Samah makes some very good points. The bottom line is that normalization is used cynically by the Israeli establishment, by creating a facade of normalcy, to perpetuate the brutal Israeli occupation and the theft of Palestinian land and resources. There will be plenty of time to normalize once there is a real peace based on equality that puts an end to the current apartheid regime in Israel. That's how it happened in South Africa and how it will happen in Israel / Palestine.

NQD, you cannot "respect" someone who has his boots on your neck! The fascist Israeli government has to stop stealing Palestinians lands and resources and imprisoning millions of people in bantustans before there is any hope of "respect".