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Google To Invest Millions in Palestine

36 points by amrnt 16y ago

endtime 16y ago
As someone with family in Israel and strong views on the ME conflict, I think this is great news. Anything which supports/encourages the Palestinians making their own lives better and producing stuff which doesn't explode is a good thing for everyone in the region. This sort of thing is how a viable Palestinian state is going to come about, if ever.
- gabea 16y ago
  I think that the part of your comment regarding "producing stuff which doesn't explode" is very unnecessary. Your level of bias is clearly evident here. Instead of trying to pull both sides together through the positiveness of such news you add fuel to the conflict. Having family in the region does not make your statement any more authoritative then it would for someone with family in Palestine. I hope you rethink your intentions here and in future posts about this terrible conflict attempt to be more evenly considerate. Remember there are always two sides to every story. Thank you.
  - _pius 16y ago
    Comments like this stop threads from devolving into flame wars. Thanks.
  - endtime 16y ago
    I made no attempt to hide my position; I actually intended to make it quite clear. The point of my comment is that this isn't Google taking sides, and that this should be seen as a good thing by people on both sides of the conflict, to one of which I belong. That's why I mentioned having family there - not because I think it makes my opinion correct, just because I think it makes the perspective from which I'm coming that much clearer. That said, the tone of equivocation you take is a great example of "pretending to be wise": http://lesswrong.com/lw/yp/pretending_to_be_wise/ http://lesswrong.com/lw/yp/pretending_to_be_wise/
- talbina 16y ago
  On the other hand, your government's policies have stifled Palestinians in both regions, in food, shelter, security, and basic medical care. It's kind of hard to produce anything when your house is demolished by bulldozers and your town's farm is burned. This sort of thing is how a viable Palestinian state is going to come about, if ever.
  - jacobmg 16y ago
    That is trolling. All you're doing is reciting your standard "Israel is evil occupier" routine typical of someone of a certain political bias. No sources or added incite. It is however a fact, that since a high percentage of suicide bombers came out of Palestinian territories when compared to other countries, it is accurate to imply that a different economic course could diminish the terrorist aspect of the Palestinian economy. endtime's comment may seem inflammatory to you, but it is only objective recognition of economic factors. Your's is analysis of far more complex issues and simplifying of the moral choices in the conflict.
    - mixmax 16y ago
      I've never writen a political comment on HN before, and probably never will again. But this is one of these rare occassions where I really feel the need to do so, knowing it'll probably cost me karma and goodwill. Anyway... Of course there's a high percentage of suicide bombers in Palestine - it's their only option against an oppressive regime. They don't have tanks, they don't have fighter planes and they don't have a navy. It's their last resort. They have nothing else with which to fight.
      - cool-RR 16y ago
        No one here said the Palestinians don't have a good reason for doing suicide bombings. We'll all just be happier if they'll have a good economy so they'll stop blowing up.
        mixmax 16y ago
        I agree. And the first step to having a good economy is personal freedom and the ability to freely buy and sell goods across your border. All of which Israel denies the Palestinians.
snowmaker 16y ago
Is Google in the practice of making these kinds of investments in very early stage tech sectors? What is in this for them?
- cdibona 16y ago
  Yes. I didn't cut this deal, mind you, so I can't speak for Gisele, but we do indeed make these kinds of investments if anything as early as possible in a region. It might be perceived as riskier, but I would say that it's likely only slightly riskier than funding a startup anywhere else.
cool-RR 16y ago
I wonder, why are they doing this? I mean, the reason tech companies go to Israel is because there's an enormous concentration of talent there. Why would they go to Palestine? I don't think there's any talent there. Is this a humanitarian thing? I'd be happy to hear first-hand experiences from people who worked with Palestinian developers or with software produced by Palestinian developers.
- talbina 16y ago
  I wonder, why do you think there's no talent there? Do you think Google would have done some due diligence before hand?
  - cool-RR 16y ago
    I think there's no talent there because: 1. I never knew a Palestinian developer on any mailing list or other forum. 2. I never knew of any software or technological product developed in Palestine. 3. I never knew of any notable developer or software developed in ANY of the Muslim states in the middle east, and that's a huge evidence given that there are >100 million Muslims there.
    - talbina 16y ago
      Maybe you're just not looking hard enough: http://arabcrunch.com/ http://arabcrunch.com/
      - rbreve 16y ago
        Indeed http://www.startuparabia.com/navigate/countries/palestine/ http://www.startuparabia.com/navigate/countries/palestine/
      - cool-RR 16y ago
        I am sure they exist, but the fact I didn't hear of any cool ones says a lot. I never see a cool "Show HN" start-up which is from the Muslim middle-east. And to remind you, we are talking about the entire Muslim middle-east here, with >100 million people who live in relative wealth and comfort. But Google is investing in Palestine, who are only a few millions who live in poverty and danger.
Samuel_Michon 16y ago
Inflammatory title. The story is about investments in Gaza and the West Bank. 'Palestine' is not a country, it's a name for an entire region, including Israel and parts of Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. The author probably meant 'Palestinian National Authority'. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestine http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestine http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinian_National_Authority http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinian_National_Authority
- deleted 16y ago
  [deleted]
VB6_Forever 16y ago
From the story it seems they are investing €2 million. It doesn't seem like a lot but hopefully it will be just the start
- Qz 16y ago
  €2 million may not seem like a lot in western nations, but typically third world countries have a much more favorable exchange rate of dollars/euros into local currency. All those charity ads on TV that talk about people surviving on less than $2 a day tend not to mention that $2 a day can buy you a lot of more stuff in other countries than in the US.
  - VB6_Forever 16y ago
    good point
cagey 16y ago
It will be exceedingly interesting to watch the progress/outcome of this investment (if Google chooses to share honestly, something that's clearly optional). The best indication of the actual ROI of this investment will be whether further investments are forthcoming (although Google could pour a few tens of millions USD down a hole and not notice). Anyone know if Google has invested comparable amounts in Lebanon, Syria or Libya?

36 points by amrnt 16y ago

As someone with family in Israel and strong views on the ME conflict, I think this is great news. Anything which supports/encourages the Palestinians making their own lives better and producing stuff which doesn't explode is a good thing for everyone in the region. This sort of thing is how a viable Palestinian state is going to come about, if ever.

gabea 16y ago
I think that the part of your comment regarding "producing stuff which doesn't explode" is very unnecessary. Your level of bias is clearly evident here. Instead of trying to pull both sides together through the positiveness of such news you add fuel to the conflict. Having family in the region does not make your statement any more authoritative then it would for someone with family in Palestine. I hope you rethink your intentions here and in future posts about this terrible conflict attempt to be more evenly considerate. Remember there are always two sides to every story. Thank you.
- _pius 16y ago
  Comments like this stop threads from devolving into flame wars. Thanks.
- endtime 16y ago
  I made no attempt to hide my position; I actually intended to make it quite clear. The point of my comment is that this isn't Google taking sides, and that this should be seen as a good thing by people on both sides of the conflict, to one of which I belong. That's why I mentioned having family there - not because I think it makes my opinion correct, just because I think it makes the perspective from which I'm coming that much clearer. That said, the tone of equivocation you take is a great example of "pretending to be wise": http://lesswrong.com/lw/yp/pretending_to_be_wise/ http://lesswrong.com/lw/yp/pretending_to_be_wise/
talbina 16y ago
On the other hand, your government's policies have stifled Palestinians in both regions, in food, shelter, security, and basic medical care. It's kind of hard to produce anything when your house is demolished by bulldozers and your town's farm is burned. This sort of thing is how a viable Palestinian state is going to come about, if ever.
- jacobmg 16y ago
  That is trolling. All you're doing is reciting your standard "Israel is evil occupier" routine typical of someone of a certain political bias. No sources or added incite. It is however a fact, that since a high percentage of suicide bombers came out of Palestinian territories when compared to other countries, it is accurate to imply that a different economic course could diminish the terrorist aspect of the Palestinian economy. endtime's comment may seem inflammatory to you, but it is only objective recognition of economic factors. Your's is analysis of far more complex issues and simplifying of the moral choices in the conflict.
  - mixmax 16y ago
    I've never writen a political comment on HN before, and probably never will again. But this is one of these rare occassions where I really feel the need to do so, knowing it'll probably cost me karma and goodwill. Anyway... Of course there's a high percentage of suicide bombers in Palestine - it's their only option against an oppressive regime. They don't have tanks, they don't have fighter planes and they don't have a navy. It's their last resort. They have nothing else with which to fight.
    - cool-RR 16y ago
      No one here said the Palestinians don't have a good reason for doing suicide bombings. We'll all just be happier if they'll have a good economy so they'll stop blowing up.
      - mixmax 16y ago
        I agree. And the first step to having a good economy is personal freedom and the ability to freely buy and sell goods across your border. All of which Israel denies the Palestinians.

snowmaker 16y ago

Is Google in the practice of making these kinds of investments in very early stage tech sectors? What is in this for them?

cdibona 16y ago
Yes. I didn't cut this deal, mind you, so I can't speak for Gisele, but we do indeed make these kinds of investments if anything as early as possible in a region. It might be perceived as riskier, but I would say that it's likely only slightly riskier than funding a startup anywhere else.

cool-RR 16y ago

I wonder, why are they doing this? I mean, the reason tech companies go to Israel is because there's an enormous concentration of talent there. Why would they go to Palestine? I don't think there's any talent there. Is this a humanitarian thing? I'd be happy to hear first-hand experiences from people who worked with Palestinian developers or with software produced by Palestinian developers.

talbina 16y ago
I wonder, why do you think there's no talent there? Do you think Google would have done some due diligence before hand?
- cool-RR 16y ago
  I think there's no talent there because: 1. I never knew a Palestinian developer on any mailing list or other forum. 2. I never knew of any software or technological product developed in Palestine. 3. I never knew of any notable developer or software developed in ANY of the Muslim states in the middle east, and that's a huge evidence given that there are >100 million Muslims there.
  - talbina 16y ago
    Maybe you're just not looking hard enough: http://arabcrunch.com/ http://arabcrunch.com/
    - rbreve 16y ago
      Indeed http://www.startuparabia.com/navigate/countries/palestine/ http://www.startuparabia.com/navigate/countries/palestine/
    - cool-RR 16y ago
      I am sure they exist, but the fact I didn't hear of any cool ones says a lot. I never see a cool "Show HN" start-up which is from the Muslim middle-east. And to remind you, we are talking about the entire Muslim middle-east here, with >100 million people who live in relative wealth and comfort. But Google is investing in Palestine, who are only a few millions who live in poverty and danger.

Samuel_Michon 16y ago

Inflammatory title. The story is about investments in Gaza and the West Bank. 'Palestine' is not a country, it's a name for an entire region, including Israel and parts of Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. The author probably meant 'Palestinian National Authority'. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestine http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestine http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinian_National_Authority http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinian_National_Authority

deleted 16y ago
[deleted]

VB6_Forever 16y ago

From the story it seems they are investing €2 million. It doesn't seem like a lot but hopefully it will be just the start

Qz 16y ago
€2 million may not seem like a lot in western nations, but typically third world countries have a much more favorable exchange rate of dollars/euros into local currency. All those charity ads on TV that talk about people surviving on less than $2 a day tend not to mention that $2 a day can buy you a lot of more stuff in other countries than in the US.
- VB6_Forever 16y ago
  good point

cagey 16y ago

It will be exceedingly interesting to watch the progress/outcome of this investment (if Google chooses to share honestly, something that's clearly optional). The best indication of the actual ROI of this investment will be whether further investments are forthcoming (although Google could pour a few tens of millions USD down a hole and not notice). Anyone know if Google has invested comparable amounts in Lebanon, Syria or Libya?