A final-status peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians has been reached, and someone has to run the new state. Are the Palestinians ready for that day?
Even though this scenario is still in the wishful-thinking category, young people on both sides are already making initial preparations. Some of them are currently in the United States and will be discussing the issue with students at several universities in the D.C. area next week.
One of the Palestinians is Rami Rabayah, a 30-year old rural-development executive from the West Bank city of Jenin who works on improving private-sector performances in Palestinian agriculture. Israel will be represented by Yaniv Sasson, a 29-year old scholar and activist.
They are being hosted by the OneVoice Movement, a grassroots organization advocating a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The visitors “will be raising awareness about the conflict, the work they are doing with their communities to prepare each side for compromises that will arise from a final-status agreement, and the important role that Americans — especially young people — have to play in being part of the solution,” the group said in a statement.
Isarel’s ambassador to the United States, Sallai Meridor, underscored the importance of building an infrastructure for the future Palestinian state during a meeting with The Washington Times editorial board on Tuesday.
The OneVoice guests will visit George Washington University, Georgetown, George Mason University, American University and the University of Maryland at College Park.
By Nicholas Kralev, diplomatic correspondent, The Washington Times
Please read our comment policy before commenting.