Positively PosiTeam: A Glimpse Inside Cisco-Israel's Training Of Palestinian Entrepreneurs - Richard Behar Richard Behar Contributor
With official relations between Palestinians and Israelis still poisonous after a century of conflict, any constructive dialogue is newsworthy. But these aren't security forces talking about joint military patrols, nor is this discussion connected to the sudden resumption of peace talks after a three-year stalemate. The group, brought together by Cisco Systems, is speaking their common language: tech management. Nearly 100 times over the past two years Israeli high-tech experts and Palestinian entrepreneurs have gotten together in the hope of making Israel's "Startup Nation" economic miracle a cross-border affair. And it's just one of dozens of business-driven dialogues quietly-in many cases secretly-proliferating across the Holy Land.
"The way to end this conflict is to create a very large middle class and be inclusive in how you go after it across all individuals, regardless of age, religion or gender," says John Chambers, CEO of Cisco, the most actively involved American tech executive in a coordinated effort that includes de facto diplomats from the likes of Intel, Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft. "If you can address those issues and you can get others involved, then you can have a shot at peace in the Middle East."
Of course, there's already billions of dollars' worth of trade flowing between the West Bank and Israel, given their proximity and the latter's border control over the former. Even in Gaza, whose leaders have a stated goal of destroying the Jewish state, commerce furtively passes back and forth on a massive scale. April's Dead Sea meeting, however, represents something much more far-reaching and rarely discussed. Rather than just trading goods, hundreds of Israeli and Palestinians are becoming actual business partners and colleagues in startups that are slowly transforming the Palestinian economy, at least in the West Bank.
ups or to hire local Arabs.
An Israeli Special Forces Commando, An Arab Investor, A Religious Zionist -- And A Hot Start-Up Called Webydo - Richard Behar Richard Behar Contributor