“The political and social realities of Palestinian life under occupation, as well as a strong desire to resolve problems creatively and peacefully, are what distinguish the Palestinian (Team) program as an evocative work of art.” – Alon Raab, The Global Game

The Team: Palestine is a multi-layered television series that weaves together elements of drama, sports, and societal issues. It offers a realistic portrayal of what a soccer/football* team from Palestine faces on a daily basis. Moments of love and hate clash with ancient social traditions and values; the realities of life in a refugee camp mix with the stresses and demands that university students face. The Team is intended to reach both the minds and hearts of its audience.  It is the highest expression of creative talents working in Palestinian television and drama today.

The main character, Khaled, is a university student and a professional football player. He is kind and intelligent, and falls in love with his dream girl, Salem. In a nod to local culture, in which young men and women in Palestine routinely memorize and recite poetry, the couple read poems to one another over the phone before they go to sleep. The TV drama follows their love story.  
The members of the football team want to improve and develop their skills, but they face the constant challenges that come with living as a nation under occupation. Among the unique difficulties for the team is the daily reality that their coach or teammates could be arrested at any time. The series seeks to dispel negative stereotypes and show Palestinians solving their own problems and seeking cooperative solutions.

“We wanted to transmit values of peace and to do that you need to convince, not impose,” Nabil Shoumali, Writer and Director of The Team: Palestine told Alon Raab with The Global Game. Shoumali emphasized the importance of communication and living together with Israelis, with each side recognizing the other’s humanity. “War is the corpse of all civilized things … our dreams should be connected,” he said.

“With drama we can speak about our dreams, how to build things together, how we will be when we have our own state, the power of the group to shape its future.” – Raed Othman, Ma’an General Director

* The sport known as soccer in the United States will hereafter be referred to as football, as it is known in the rest of the world.

FACTS about The Team: Palestine

• Co-produced by the Ma'an Network and Search for Common Ground (SFCG).
• The largest TV production ever made in Palestine.
• The cast and crew of 110 people are all Palestinians.
• Directed and written by Nabil Shoumali, and filmed in more than 60 sites around Palestine.
• Series launch to coincide with the 2010 World Cup, with the TV drama to be broadcast in West Bank cities as the lead-in show immediately before the nighttime football matches.
• Ma’an Network to webcast the entire 28-episode series after the World Cup.
• Satellite broadcast to begin during Ramadan starting August 2010.

THEMES of The Team: Palestine

• The importance of education for all Palestinians
• Freedom of association and assembly
• Rule of law and democracy building
• The challenges faced by women in an unequal society
• Tradition versus modernity
• Constructive problem-solving in the Israeli/Palestinian context
• Values such as loyalty, commitment and cooperation
• Second chances in life (particularly as seen through Khaled’s post-jail experience)

“Without compromising on story or entertainment, Shoumali and fellow creators emphasize the rule of law and freedom of association, challenges faced by women, peaceful conflict resolution and the importance of pursuing one’s dreams.” – Alon Raab,  The Global Game

The Club Context

Athletic, cultural and social clubs have played an important role in Palestinian society for generations.  These clubs are one of the places in which Palestinians, who have limited social space, gather to play cards, watch plays, hear lectures, hold festivals, or play football. Over the years, the political situation including curfews and the severe economic downturn in Palestinian cities made it more difficult for the clubs to sustain themselves. While in many countries young people play football in any available empty lot, the political situation in Palestine was so fragile that parents did not allow their youngsters to play outside. In the past couple of years, however, there has been a rise in club activity, particularly in the West Bank. The construction of a new football stadium in East Jerusalem has added to the excitement of having a Palestinian team once again. 

More Information about Ma’an Network

Founded in 2002 as a non-profit media organization, Ma'an Network (Ma'an, www.maannet.org) operates from its Bethlehem headquarters with a staff of approximately 100 experienced media professionals and technicians. Guided by the Ma'an Board of Directors and General Assembly, network activities include television, video, and radio production, an online news agency (www.maannews.net) providing round-the-clock coverage of events in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and training courses for Palestinian journalists and media personnel. In partnership with member stations, which include nine local television stations and nine local radio stations in major Palestinian cities including Gaza, Ma’an aims to strengthen professional, independent Palestinian media; build links between local, regional and international media; and consolidate freedom of expression and media pluralism as keys to promoting democracy in Palestine.

Episode Summaries for The Team - Palestine (Season 1)

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The Team has received funding from the following:

Common Ground Productions
Deborah Jones, Executive Producer
1601 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20009, USA
Phone: +1 (202) 265-4300
Fax: +1 (202) 232-6718
Email: cgpinfo@sfcg.org