Jerusalem, a city like no other, has holy religious sites and constant social conflict. It is the center of the Arab-Israeli conflict, with members of each group struggling to coexist with the other. It has been 65 years since the State of Israel was declared, yet Arabs and Israelis have still not come to an agreement on any kind of permanent peace agreement. Part of the struggle in Jerusalem over the years has been radical groups on both sides taking the conflict to new heights. Jihadist organizations such as the Muslim Brotherhood have used terrorism to instill fear in Jews. The ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, in Israel and abroad, has used propaganda and an ultra-conservative lifestyle to isolate itself from the rest of the Jewish population. In doing so, both groups allowed negative stereotypes to be imposed on their respective religions. In the middle of all this conflict is professional football. Jerusalem and its two professional football clubs, HaPoel Jerusalem FC and Beitar Jerusalem FC, have been affected by and influence the Arab-Israeli conflict surrounding them. Each team represents a different social group, with different belief systems and political supporters. With so much emphasis placed on teams, politicians have used each fan base to represent their party's beliefs. Beitar Jerusalem has been linked to right-wing anti-Arab groups since its founding, while HaPoel Jerusalem has represented left-wing Israeli workers' unions. The prevailing political ties to Jerusalem's professional soccer teams have only further complicated the already hostile Arab-Israeli conflict. Since the period of British control of Palestine, political leaders have supported separate football teams in... middle of paper.... ..rivalries, and it has helped me better explain HaPoel Jerusalem's effect on the conflict Arab-Israeli. Both authors agree that this football rivalry has only further complicated the ongoing conflict in Jerusalem. It brought a somewhat looming conflict into the homes of everyday Israelis and Arabs. As time passes and the state of Israel continues to be questioned, the role of the Beitar-HaPoel rivalry will continue to be felt in the Israeli Knesset. Works Cited Greenberg, Joel. “Racism in football raises concern in Israel.” Washington Post, February 11, 2013.E:60. Episode no. 95, first broadcast on November 6, 2012 by ESPN. Directed by Jeremy Schaap. Tamir Sorek, “Soccer Fandom and Citizenship in Israel,” Middle East Report 245 (2007): 21. Amir Ben-Porat, “Oh Beitar Jerusalem: The Burning Bush Protest,” The International Journal of the History of Sport 18:4 (2001): 135.