It seems like a simple idea: economic cooperation serving as an impetus for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. It was with this in mind that Ben Gurion University launched its “Business for Peace” competition last year. Students and faculty from all of Israel’s academic institutions were invited to submit “groundbreaking” proposals, which would help to develop the Palestinian economy and promote cooperation between the Israelis and the Palestinians.
The competition ended last week, and the winners were announced. The first prize ($20,000) was taken by Dor Leitman and Sagi Bernstein, who developed a concept based on “outsourcing between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.” The two men, who study software engineering at Ben Gurion University, submitted a proposal to create an employment bridge between Israel’s high-tech industry, which is starved for workers, and Palestinian software engineers in the Territories, who are starved for work. “In my opinion, the implications of our project are far more significant than the economic benefits that both sides will enjoy,” said Leitman upon winning.
The idea behind the project is to create a website focusing on collaborative employment opportunities and job outsourcing between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The website will include Israeli and Palestinian members, who offer technological services, job opportunities, and/or projects that require implementation. Users will consist of private individuals and companies who sell their services. For example, a web developer could offer his services building internet sites, while a company could offer services for larger projects. Each user will have a profile with personal data, relevant information, previous projects and recommendations from other users of the site. The goal is to create a cooperative economic and employment environment in which each side seeks out the other and, in the long run, gets to know each other too.
It is a simple but ingenious idea. In the global village in which we live, employment frequently exits the factory and office space and flows along broadband connections. The internet is succeeding where the leaders of both peoples have failed. It is shattering barriers, reducing distances, and circumventing borders.
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