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: Fastcase Legal News

Internet Start-Up Builds Bridges in Middle East

The New York Times this week followed a budding internet start-up company, G.ho.st, that is trying to found an innovate web product in spite of the major divides, physical and cultural, across Israel and Palestine. The firm employs both Israelis and Palestinians, separated by checkpoints and fences, who can meet once in awhile in neutral zones and coffee shops. Most often, Palestinian developers communicate with their Israeli counterparts by webcam. Many of G.ho.st's employees had never interacted with those on the other side of the conflict, and while the founders expected a difficult transition, chief executive Zvi Schreiber states that the partnership has been highly successful.

G.ho.st is currently developing a "virtual computer" that would allow users to access the desktop, files, and data from their machine at any computer. As Schreiber explains, "Ghosts go through walls," and they hope their product will be no exception. But the company does hope that in reaching its goals as a business, it can in a small way bridge the gaps that daily push their employees apart. In addition to directly hiring Palestinian developers (rather than cheaply outsourcing the jobs), G.ho.st also supports a foundation that builds computer centers in Palestinian towns.

G.ho.st, gliding gracefully through barriers rather than breaking them down, represents much more than the next generation of computing.

Full post as published by Fastcase Legal News on June 05, 2008 (boomark / email).