February 2, 2014
In Blog
The Palestinian Authority is considering hiring Israeli marketing firms for a campaign to attract young Israelis to what they are calling “the other Palestine,” Israel Radio reported on Friday.
The goal of the campaign, according to the report, is to avoid politics and the occupation and expose Israelis to a different side of the PA – namely, its nightlife, parties, cultural events, cafes and upscale restaurants.
The PA is weighing hiring Israeli marketing and PR firms for the largely Internet-based, multimillion-dollar campaign.
According to the report, the campaign will include short videos featuring, for example, an Israeli model tearing up the dance floor with an image of Ramallah in the background.
The PA is also reportedly planning a tour of Ramallah for Israeli celebrities. Plans include a meeting with PA President Mahmoud Abbas, a meal at a fancy Ramallah eatery and a visit to Rawabi, the new Palestinian city being planned north of Ramallah in the West Bank.
The initiative is part of a larger effort to strengthen ties between Palestinians and their Israeli neighbors, Israel Radio reported.
It is being organized by a team formed by Abbas, which has held some 100 meetings with Israelis politicians, retired army officials, business people and academics.
Israelis are restricted from entering the Palestinian Authority, due to a military order to that effect dating from October 2000, the beginning of the Second Intifada.