Israeli international soccer player Eran Zahavi is taking advantage of a break in the Chinese Super League season to join elder statesman Shimon Peres on Sunday Peres Center for Peace in Jaffa in a day of "football for peace". Zahavi will play with dozens of Israeli and Palestinian Authority children who participate in the Peres Center's "Twinned Peace Sports Schools" program, as well as children of employees of the Chinese Embassy in Israel.
Peres will designate Zahavi as an "Ambassador for Peace in Sport", in recognition of the importance of promoting peace and tolerance through football, as well as Zahavi's role in serving as an example and role model for young Israeli and Chinese children. Chinese Ambassador to Israel Zhan Yongxin will join the two in launching the project "Shavim", or "Equals", which aims to collect food donations for disadvantaged families for Rosh HaShana, and is led by Zahavi in cooperation with the organization "Pitchon Lev".