New Center to Facilitate Israeli-Palestinian Partnerships

JERUSALEM, Israel – Despite Israeli-Palestinian tensions, a new business center to facilitate meetings between Israeli and Palestinian business people interested in joint ventures is set to open next month.

The pilot project, funded by Israel's Regional Cooperation Ministry and located at the Sha'ar Ephraim crossing, will allow Palestinians from the West Bank (Judea and Samaria) and Israelis to meet easily and comfortably without the need for special travel permits.

Deputy Regional Cooperation Minister Ayoub Kara told the Jerusalem Post meeting at the center "will be as easy as going to the mall."

Kara, a member of the Druze community, has been instrumental in promoting cooperation between Israeli Jews and Arabs. He hopes the center will usher in a new era of cooperation that will foster better relations all the way around.

Baruch Mazor, CEO of the Israeli-Palestinian Chambers of Commerce, told the Jerusalem Post it's exactly the kind of simple and effective proactive initiative that will encourage communication "without any problems or difficulties."

"It is a great project," Mazor said. "It's very effective and very clever."