MEET - Middle East Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow

05/08/2026

Thank you to B8 Of Hope and Amal Tikva for this beautiful reflection on their recent visit to our Summer 2026 program, and for the continued partnership that makes our work possible.

As they put it: "it reminds us that another future remains possible."

Thank you to Ariel Markose and Shadi Albaset for visiting us on B8 of Hope's behalf.

We're fortunate to have partners like Amal-Tikva, our consultants in Jerusalem. Beyond providing outstanding capacity-building support to our grantees, they help us become better philanthropists—more strategic, more thoughtful, and more responsive to the needs of the peacebuilding ecosystem.

And when we can't be on the ground to witness the initiatives we support, they are there for us.

A few days ago, Ariel Markose and Shadi Albaset from Amal-Tikva visited the MEET - Middle East Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow campus on our behalf, saw the activities and had interesting updates and discussions with MEET’s incredible new CEO Rabea Zioud and MEET’s representative in the US, Eve Guterman.

MEET brings together talented Israeli and Palestinian high school students for an innovative three-year program that combines computer science, social entrepreneurship, and leadership.
Developed in partnership with MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), the program equips young people with cutting-edge technological skills while encouraging them to collaborate across divides on projects that address real social challenges in their communities.

The MEET Summer 2026 program consists of three intensive weeks, students from Years 1, 2, and 3 come together in Jerusalem to deepen their knowledge of technology and entrepreneurship while working side by side to design innovative solutions with social impact.

In a time marked by grief, and deep polarization, programs like MEET remind us that another future remains possible.

By empowering young Israelis and Palestinians with skills, confidence, and opportunities to dream together, MEET is helping nurture a new generation of changemakers. The relationships built here are not the end of the journey—they are the beginning. In a context shaped by conflict and profound asymmetries, these encounters create the foundation upon which young leaders can continue their own paths of engagement, innovation, and social responsibility within their respective societies.

Their shared goal is not to erase their differences, but to use technology, entrepreneurship, and collaboration to create meaningful social impact.

We are proud to support initiatives that invest in young people who choose to build rather than divide, and grateful to Amal-Tikva for helping us stay connected to this inspiring work.

Photo: Amal Tikva

05/08/2026

Last Sunday, we celebrated the graduation of MEET's Class of 2026, marking the end of three intensive weeks of learning, growth, and hands-on partnership, and the close of a three-year journey.

The room was full of families and friends of every student in the Class of 2026, and the atmosphere was electric. The excitement was at its peak, and our pride, and the families', soared alongside everything these students built and achieved.

There's nothing quite like standing in a room full of Palestinian and Israeli families together, celebrating their children's achievements side by side, and being reminded of what we all share: love for our children, support for them, and belief that they will grow up to succeed and build a better world.

As one of our graduating students said in their speech: "Today, if you walk into a room with the Class of 2026, you don't see Israeli tables and Palestinian tables. You just see our cohort."

This graduation also marks their official entry into the MEET alumni community, with all of its programs, and the professional and social network it has to offer.

Congratulations on everything ahead of you, and welcome to our alumni community! We're waiting eagerly to see all that you'll go on to do.

📸 Photo from the ceremony below.

21/07/2026

How do we keep dialogue alive in times of war, polarization, and uncertainty?
It's a question we ask ourselves constantly at MEET, and one that Friedrich Naumann Foundation - Jerusalem reflects on beautifully after their recent ME 2.0 Palestinian-Israeli Young Business Leaders Forum gathering in Jerusalem.

We're proud to be part of a community of organizations committed to sustaining dialogue and cooperation, even, and especially, when it's hardest.

As they put it: "Even in difficult times, relationships and cooperation remain the foundation for a shared future."

21/07/2026

Yesterday we had the pleasure of hosting Shadi Abed Albaset and Ariel Markose from Amal Tikva at our Summer 2026 program.

Amal Tikva is a partner organization that initiates and runs so many meaningful and impactful projects, and it meant a lot to welcome them, show them our students at work, and share the story of this summer's cohort.

Thank you for your visit, and for everything you do to support this work!

20/07/2026

This is a friendly reminder to RSVP for Expo Night 2026!

8 bi-national startup teams are waiting to pitch their tech solutions and take notes from you.

https://luma.com/a3ausi22

Here are our amazing teams:
AmanOr, GuidEM, Forsa, Hobbily, Wajihni, OK?, QOL, Electrify

20/07/2026

Last Week, our Year 3 students had their Professional Day at Meta's offices, spending the day with an incredible group of mentors and industry professionals who came to share their knowledge and experience.

Our students are hard at work building startups that address real social problems in their communities, and having experienced professionals in the room, asking questions, offering feedback, and sharing real-world advice - made all the difference.

A huge thank you to our mentors: Adan Suleiman, Hanan Hlehel, Mona Haj, Ruth Manielewitch, Elad Orian, Lena Hallaq, and Ido Wiesel.

And to our workshop leaders: Liz Harris, Pavel Bolo, Elad Hoffman, and Malak Falah.

We're so grateful for your time, generosity, and belief in the next generation of Israeli and Palestinian changemakers!

14/07/2026

Yesterday we had the honor of hosting a group of school principals from the Branco Weiss Momentum program, an initiative bringing excellence in math and physics to schools across the Bedouin Negev communities.

Their visit was part of a two-day training exploring what excellence looks like across different fields - education, technology, health, and sport - and they chose to spend part of it with us, learning about MEET's approach.

Our CEO, Rabea Zioud, opened with his own personal journey toward excellence before sharing what MEET is and does. Then our curriculum lead, Aya Levy- Zalmanson, and alumni Sama Darawsheh, spoke about what it means to be part of the MEET community, with Sama sharing her own personal journey.

Thank you to the Momentum principals for the inspiring exchange, we can't wait to see the excellence you're building in your own schools!

📸 A few photos from the visit below.

13/07/2026

MEET Summer 2026 program officially began yesterday!
Our Year 2 and 3 students arrived in Jerusalem, and we're so excited for the three weeks ahead, full of connecting hearts, learning technology and entrepreneurship side by side, and building real tech solutions to social problems in their communities.

Tomorrow, our Year 1 students will arrive for the very first time. We can't wait to welcome them into the MEET family!

Stay tuned for more updates throughout the summer, and mark your calendars: MEET Expo Night is coming up on July 27, a great chance to meet our students and see their startups in action.
RSVP -> https://luma.com/a3ausi22

📸 A few photos from day one below!

29/06/2026

We are proud to announce a new partnership with the German government in support of MEET’s mission.

Our CEO, Rabea Zioud, visited at the German Embassy and our dear friend Ambassador Seibert, to formally sign the cooperation and funding agreement that will help support MEET’s upcoming summer programs.

At a time when spaces for meaningful connection are increasingly rare, this partnership will help us continue bringing together and empowering young Israeli and Palestinian leaders through technology, entrepreneurship, and leadership.

We are deeply grateful for this support and for the trust in our mission.

Thank you for your partnership and commitment to building a free, just, and equal future.

Germany in Israel / גרמניה בישראל

26/05/2026

As we face new regional reality and opportunities, we’re proud to welcome and introduce MEET’s new CEO - Rabea Zioud.

Rabea is a dedicated entrepreneur and community leader with deep experience in management and business development across the social impact sector. In 20 years, Rabea gained a strong track record supporting and scaling startups locally and globally.

Prior to joining MEET, Rabea co-founded and served as CEO of Hasoub - a grassroots movement that has evolved into a leading organization promoting technology and entrepreneurship within Arab society.

Marking the next phase of leadership at MEET, Rabea joins us with a deep belief in the power of young people to challenge the status quo and drive meaningful change. As he says, “There is still so much to transform, and if I’m to pursue this mission, I want to do it alongside the people of MEET.”

We’re excited about what’s ahead and confident that, with Rabea’s entrepreneurial energy and commitment to inclusive innovation, our community will continue building and creating a future together.