Unlikely Partners

When Palestinian Interns Meet Israeli Tech - with Devon Spitzer and Mohammed Atira

Episode Notes

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 of Unlikely Partners, Yadin explores the story behind the Palestinian Internship Program (PIP), an initiative he founded in 2014 to help talented young Palestinians launch careers in the tech industry. By connecting Palestinian university graduates with internships at Israeli tech companies, PIP aims to create opportunities for professional growth while helping strengthen the Palestinian economy—and, in turn, the prospects for better relations between Israelis and Palestinians.

To discuss all this, Yadin was joined by PIP Executive Director Devon Spitzer, an American-Israeli mediator specializing in conflict resolution, and Deputy Director Mohammed Atira, a Palestinian engineer from Nablus who was once a PIP intern himself. Together, they unpacked how the program has shaped the careers and lives of its participants, the challenges and possibilities of Israelis and Palestinians working together, and what cross-border professional relationships can mean for the future of the region.

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CREDITS: 
 

Yadin Kaufmann, Devon Spitzer, Mohammed Atira, Maya Rackoff, Alon Schwartz, Adi Shaham