Just another ghost in the Wall

July 15, 2009 - 9:08 AM by David

A poster for ther G.ho.st launch on the security barrier near Beit Jallah. (AP)

A poster for ther G.ho.st launch on the security barrier near Beit Jallah. (AP)

The security barrier is on lots of peoples’ minds lately – first it was the Cellcom ad, and now it’s a new Internet startup G.ho.st, launched last night by an Israeli entrepreneur and Palestinian software developers.

For this startup, the product may be less important than the people who created it.
According to the Associated Press, Israeli entrepreneur Zvi Schreiber partnered with Palestinian engineers to launch G.ho.st Virtual Computer, a Web-based operating system based in Jerusalem and Ramallah that recreates the attributes of a personal computer’s desktop from any computer with an Internet connection.

“Our idea is simply to use the Internet to give people a computing environment that is not just stored on a physical device, but is available on a Web page or any mobile device and gives you everything you need: your desktop, your files, your programs,” G.ho.st CEO Schreiber said at the launch, in the West Bank town of Beit Jalla, close to Jerusalem’s southern edge.

The company started more than three years ago after Schreiber sold his second high tech startup. He had never worked with Palestinians and knew very little about the fledgling software industry in the West Bank.

“I wanted to combine my technological interests with my social interests. I always wanted to do something to help resolve the complete mess that we’ve all made of this part of the world,” he said.

According to Schreiber, the company’s name refers not only to the virtual computer’s ability to float through the boundaries of a physical computer, but also to the G.ho.st team’s cross-border collaboration.

There’s a Palestinian staff of nearly 30 workers who confer with their Israeli counterparts mostly by video conference. Many of the engineers living in the West Bank aren’t able to get the permits needed to get into Israel, while Israelis are barred from most Palestinian areas in the West Bank due to security concerns. Schreiber has never been to the company’s Ramallah office.

Tuesday’s launch in Beit Jallah was against the backdrop of the security barrier – an intentional decision.

“Ghosts go through walls and the very first wall that G.ho.st goes through is the … wall and fence that Israel is building in the West Bank between itself and the Palestinians and which physically divides the G.ho.st team into two,” the firm’s Web site says.

AP reported that International Mideast peace envoy Tony Blair attended the launch, commended G.ho.st’s initiative and called for more such partnerships across the Israeli-Palestinian divide.

“One thing we know is of course we need a political solution, but we also know it’s not just about politics. It’s about business,” Blair said.

It would be nice if G.ho.st succeeded, not only with its Internet platform, but in forging real ties between people on both sides of the wall.

Tags: , , , , , • Category: A New Reality, Business, General, Technology, coexistence 

Comments

6 Comments on Just another ghost in the Wall

  1. David-Joe on Thu, Jul 16th 2009 4:48 AM

    2. Oh yes so wonderful. Blair makes it sound as if this is just another geopolitical disagreement.

    And Schreiber being somewhat flippant about the security wall is equally irksome.

    This is not about dividing anyone. It is about stopping Arabs entering Israel with the intention to annialate Israelis and the long term goal of destroying Israel.

    So business is fine and well but it will not bring peace and the intent is as strong as ever to destroy Israel.

    When the day comes that Arab school children are not taught about Jews in a way that would make Hitler beam in pleasure is the day that peace can become reality.

  2. well i wonder on Fri, Jul 17th 2009 1:24 AM

    3. look…the wall is illegal and so are the settlements. so all of this must be removed. luckily, obama is the man for changes. just wait.

  3. queens on Sat, Jul 18th 2009 1:11 AM

    4. it’s not a barrier, it a wall. and it’s illegal.

  4. David-Joe on Tue, Jul 21st 2009 3:22 AM

    5. The previous two comments are despicable.

    Why dont you both go and live in the Arab areas? Huh? You will then witness firsthamd the kind of babrism meeted out to Jews that fail to do whatever it takes to protect themselves.

    Of course I am assumping you are both at least Jewish and if not Israeli then mind your own business. It is not your people or nation that is under attack from the savage hordes that domnate the sad place called the Arab mid-east.

  5. ilan braun on Thu, Jul 23rd 2009 1:43 AM

    6. In response to some people who stated the barrier is illegal: please let them note that it is also -well should be- illegal to kill Jews-Israelis!
    Very funny this thing about something being illegal! Jews should remember their recent past.. everywhere in this world it has been “legal” to boycot Jews, just before making it “legal” to kill them..
    Yes business can bring something positive to both people, Jews and Palestinians, but security is security and saving Jewish lives should be a priority! or something is wrong is this Land!
    Shalom to all (and stop cursing settlers and others who do not think or behave like you.. democracy? yes, and forget about Obama, how a foreigner can decide what Jews should do? How can he dare? Well, beside that we all agree, right?

  6. Carl Muller on Thu, Jul 23rd 2009 8:21 AM

    7. Everywhere where there is crime we have security walls and fences, why not in Israel.
    It is for protection. Protecting your lives.
    Read the story about Walid Shoebat. Since he was 6 years old he was raised to kill Jews.
    Thank G-d, his life is changed and now is pro Israel.
    http://shoebat.com/
    At the present time, I will vote for a bigger wall to protect the lives of the Israelis.
    Christian Zionist.
    I support a safe state of Israel.

Leave a Comment





© 2010 ISRAELITY | Site by illuminea | Sitemap