Making even small steps in the peace process in the Middle East has never been an easy task. Israelis and Arabs alike know that very well. Just talk to anyone who lives in the area – or even who reads the news – and they will tell you the same. For example, Russian immigrant Ella Petrov says:
“Oh boy. I wouldn’t be the Israeli Prime Minister for a day…even if you paid me a million dollars.!”
Likewise, third generation photographer Tel Avivian Mozes Victor Konig says:
“Being a photographer means I am often in the center of all sorts of situations. Israel is a wonderful country with spectacular beauty that makes it such a joy to capture. But within all of that there is so much politics. It’s a complicated place that’s for sure.”
Earlier this month there was a delegation of both Israeli and Palestinian businessmen engaging together in an economics cooperation workshop in Bahrain. The Peace to Prosperity project had some impressive attendees including Avi Zimmerman, Judea-Samaria (JS) Chamber of Commerce and Industry co-founder and President, another JS Chamber co-founder, Ashraf Jabari, who is also a Palestinian businessman.
While this delegation did encounter some attacks from the public, the subject matters discussed have the potentially to hugely facilitate business opportunities for both populations.
“As far as I can see it’s a no-brainer,” Konig said, when looking at photos of the event online. “I mean the better off economically people are, the less likely they are to engage in senseless acts of terrorism. Something like this just has to be a win-win.”
Where there can be cooperation – in business, art, culture, entertainment, etc. – it must be encouraged. Taking politics out of such a highly-strung matter like this can only be beneficial in the long-term, adding to steps being made toward the ever-long struggle of peace in the middle east.