Patterns of cooperation in high-tech-constraints, feasibility, and benefits: Results of a study among Palestinians and Israelis

The objective of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians in the development of economic activities based on advanced technologies. We conducted an exploratory study in order to evaluate the attitudes of Israelis and Palestinians toward barriers and inhibiting factors. We also looked at possible models of cooperation and their economic and sociopolitical benefits, as well as the policy measures that would have to be taken in order to make such cooperation feasible. Our main results suggest that Palestinians are more sensitive to inhibiting factors but show more openness to all models of cooperation, with a preference for virtual models that are less dependent on the inhibiting factors. Economic benefits are considered major drivers for cooperation; they are important mostly to Palestinians, although Israelis attach equal weight to noneconomic benefits. In addition, public support is considered an important but not necessarily the major instrument for cooperation, especially among people in high-tech. The main conclusion drawn from this paper is that a basis does exist for Palestinian-Israeli cooperation in advanced technologies, innovation, and high-tech activities.