Unlikely Partners spotlights the Israelis and Palestinians who dare to build bridges where others see only walls. Through intimate conversations with people from both sides, the show reveals stories of cooperation, innovation, and hope that rarely make headlines but can help make for a better future. Unlikely Partners is hosted by Yadin Kaufmann, a longtime American-Israeli venture capitalist who has spent years building business connections that benefit both Israelis and Palestinians.
Yadin’s Organizations
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In this episode, Yadin sits down with Dr. Tareq Abu Hamed and Dr. David Lehrer, two leaders at the Arava Institute, an organization that brings together Israelis, Palestinians, Jordanians, and others to address shared environmental challenges through research, education, and cross-border initiatives.
Tareq, a Palestinian-Israeli from East Jerusalem, is the Executive Director of the Arava Institute. He previously served in Israel’s Ministry of Science, Technology, and Space and has become a prominent voice in climate and environmental diplomacy across the region.
David, an American-Israeli, is the Director of the Arava Institute’s Center for Applied Environmental Diplomacy. His work focuses on translating environmental research and diplomacy into practical, collaborative projects that address challenges shared across borders.
Tareq, David, and Yadin discuss how issues like water, energy, and climate change can create opportunities for cooperation in a deeply divided region, what environmental diplomacy looks like in practice, and why tackling shared ecological challenges may offer a unique pathway toward building trust between Israelis, Palestinians, and their neighbors.
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CREDITS:
Yadin Kaufmann, Tareq Abu Hamed, David Lehrer, Maya Rackoff, Alon Schwartz, Adi Shaham