“Is Peace Possible?” – Interactive Map

The “Is Peace Possible – Interactive Map” is a unique interactive tool available online. Developed by SAYA/Design for Change with the S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace during 2012, the interactive feature addresses the issue of Borders in the Israeli Palestinian conflict, and aims to engage  policy makers and the general public with the issue. The feature is a “draw your own map” tool , presenting  the complexities and possibilities in delineating a final-status border between Israel and Palestine.

About “Is Peace Possible?”

The Interactive Map is an addition to the “Is Peace Possible?” – a multi-platform project developed by the S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace, SAYA/Design for Change, and The Atlantic on the opportunities and challenges of reaching a comprehensive resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The initial project is organized around four core issues of the conflict: Borders, Security, Refugees, and Jerusalem – presented on a unique website platform – containing animated and narrated presentation videos for each issue. “Is Peace Possible?” has also been delivered as an interactive presentations  at universities, conferences, and community groups across the Unites States.

Designing New Tools for Conflict Resolution

Once the “Is Peace Possible” website was created and presented through the Atlantic website, it created a platform for discussion and idea sharing across different communities. We then sought of new ways to engage the public in the discussion and the actual process of conflict resolution, focusing on the issue of Borders. How could we tackle a controversial issue with a fresh perspective, bringing forth the multi layered information required for constructing a border (such as geographical data, population statistics, connectivity issues, past proposals, facts of the ground) in a simple and clear manner? Over the past year, SAYA has embarked, together with the S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace on a project to create a simple interactive tool that incorporates multi layered data in a visually clear and appealing manner that engages and educates the user on the process of delineating an Israeli-Palestinian permanent status border.

Overview of the Mapping System

For the better part of the past decade, the S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace has, together with experts in the region, developed a comprehensive Israeli-Palestinian territorial database. Using Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies, they have gathered and created a vast trove of data that allows precise and instant creation, analysis, and comparison of territorial scenarios – in particular, borders proposals for Israel and a future state of Palestine. Over the years, the Center has worked with top Israeli, Palestinian, and U.S. officials, as well as experts in the non-governmental community, to hone the database to reflect the complexities and nuances of the territorial question.

The GIS data base has served  top policy makers directly involved in Israeli-Palestinian final-status negotiations. And now, with the Interactive Map, we’re bringing that capability to the public, giving people the opportunity to construct their own border proposal to meet the needs of both Israelis and Palestinians. The interactive feature challenges the users to include as many Israelis as possible within Israel’s new borders while still allowing for the creation of a contiguous and viable Palestinian state. Former negotiators as well as numerous scholars and NGOs have tried their hands at this task; now we bring the challenge to the general public. The feature allows every person to create and share his proposal via social media platforms, and thus it enhances a real public debate, based on an informed and participating audience.

Check out the Interactive Map.

Read about it in the Atlantic: Crowdsourcing and an Israeli-Paelstinian Border (published December 6th, 12)

For more information about “Is Peace Possible?” visit: http://www.ispeacepossible.com/ You can also read about it here (in SAYA’s website).