A peacetech ecosystem is emerging in Israel and Palestine to leverage the power of technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), to build bridges between communities and promote peacebuilding efforts. A variety of organizations are using technology to build economic partnerships, new social networks, facilitate dialogue on contentious issues, broaden language acquisition, and strengthen education, entrepreneurship training, and job placement. As a member of the PeaceTech community in Israel and Palestine, I recently surveyed organizations working in this space in a PeaceTech Ecosystem Mapping Report. This article summarizes my findings.
Examples of Peacetech in Israel and Palestine
Several organizations are using AI in Israel and Palestine to find common ground, debunk misinformation, and promote balanced social media discourse. In the AI Pulse initiative, the Alliance for Middle East Peace (ALLMEP) collaborated with Remesh.ai to showcase how artificial intelligence can promote productive conversations between Israeli and Palestinian peace advocates. This project aims to uncover shared values and approaches for establishing peace in the area. Early discussions revealed that both sides prioritize peace and human life, with most participants wanting to end the conflict and achieve regional stability. Although some disparities emerged in preferred peacebuilding tactics, the initiative underscores AI’s capacity to encourage mutual understanding and teamwork even in deeply rooted conflicts. ALLMEP intends to broaden the study to include the general public, utilizing the gathered insights to create new peace-building programs.
HeadON is an initiative focused on revitalizing meaningful dialogue through artificial intelligence-enabled platforms. The organization’s objective is to establish intelligent environments for controversial discussions and educate AI to guide these exchanges constructively. Their strategy acknowledges that the failure to effectively resolve disagreements poses a risk to democratic societies. HeadON is creating an advanced AI system, trained on extensive contentious conversations, to promote longer and more fruitful interactions. Initial responses indicate that these AI-facilitated discussions can have a profound effect, causing individuals to challenge long-held beliefs and adopt more cooperative viewpoints. HeadON’s pre-launch progress, including numerous hours of dialogue through their internship program and recruiting advisory expertise from distinguished professionals, demonstrates the increasing interest in their methodology. Their bold target of facilitating one million conversations by 2025 highlights their dedication to utilizing AI for widespread influence.
Peacetech in a Time of War
Building trust is crucial, yet achieving it in conflict zones rife with historical baggage and ongoing tensions requires immense effort. Integrating Palestinians into the Israeli high-tech ecosystem, while promising, hinges on overcoming ingrained prejudices and fostering genuine collaboration. Addressing the deeply rooted political and ideological divides remains a significant hurdle. Even within the peace building community, strategic preferences vary, as highlighted in the ALLMEP AI Pulse research. Bridging these differences and finding common ground for action requires navigating sensitive topics and potentially confronting long-held beliefs.
Inclusion in Peacetech
Ensuring inclusivity and representation within peacetech initiatives is paramount. While my research found a 50% female participation rate in peacetech initiatives, further details on representation from diverse communities are lacking. Achieving meaningful and sustainable peace necessitates actively engaging all stakeholders, including marginalized groups, to ensure their voices are heard and their needs are addressed.
Incorporating more Palestinians into the much larger Israeli technology sector is crucial, strengthening the Palestinian economy and creating interdependence between the two communities. This process requires technical skills and the development of trust among colleagues to enable effective collaboration. To build this trust, Palestinian and Israeli coworkers need to understand each other’s perspectives, which allows them to form stronger relationships and work towards common goals. Peacetech initiatives must grapple with the potential for AI bias and the ethical implications of using technology in conflict resolution. While AI can be a powerful tool for fostering dialogue and understanding, it is essential to ensure that algorithms are developed and deployed responsibly, mitigating biases and promoting fairness. This requires ongoing critical evaluation and adaptation to ensure that peacetech serves its intended purpose of promoting peace and justice.
Fostering collaboration between organizations within the ecosystem is equally important, as partnerships can leverage expertise, share resources, and maximize impact. Comprehensive impact assessments will provide valuable insights into program effectiveness and inform future decision-making. Advocating for policies that support the integration of Palestinians within the Israeli high-tech ecosystem is vital for creating an enabling environment for peacebuilding. Finally, embracing continuous learning, research, and knowledge sharing within the ecosystem is essential for adapting to changing circumstances and improving outcomes. By addressing these key areas, the peacetech ecosystem can evolve and strengthen its capacity to promote peace and cooperation in the region.
Expanding the Budget for Peacetech in Israel and Palestine
Sustaining funding and resources for peacetech projects can be challenging, particularly in protracted conflicts where attention and funding often fluctuate with immediate crises. Ensuring long-term financial stability is vital for these initiatives to thrive and deliver lasting impact.
The peacetech ecosystem in Israel and Palestine has an annual budget exceeding $35 million, impacting over 16,000 beneficiaries, with about 50% being female and representing diverse backgrounds. The financial viability of AI-driven peacebuilding platforms is also being explored. HeadON aims to monetize the discussion platform and the underlying AI technology. By targeting a total addressable market valued at $10 billion for the platform and $90 billion for the AI persuader, they demonstrate a clear vision for sustainable growth. To further develop the PeaceTech ecosystem, a multifaceted approach is necessary. Strengthening funding is crucial, as increased financial support will expand initiatives focused on language learning, people-to-people programs, economic cooperation, and organizational foundations.
Adnan Jaber is a Palestinian peace builder and technology advocate based in Los Angeles. He is a lecturer at UCLA, where he teaches “Design Entrepreneurship for Peace and Impact” and empowers students to use technology for social good. Adnan has also worked with organizations like Tech2Peace and ALLMEP to foster dialogue and collaboration between Israelis and Palestinians through technology and entrepreneurship.
Note: This article was issued by the Toda Peace Institute and is being republished from the original with their permission.
