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Google To Invest Millions in Palestine

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Re: Google To Invest Millions in Palestine

#51

Post by Andrew_Quentin »

cool-RR wrote: post #25
ComputerGuru wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hi. My name is Mahmoud Al-Qudsi, and I'm currently living in Jordan and I studied in Palestine. You've probably seen me here a lot :) I run NeoSmart Technologies at http://neosmart.net/ which develops software used by tens of millions of people (for free). I also have a full time position as the Senior Software Architect at Genie-Soft ( http://genie-soft.com ), which is in the top 5 backup software companies around t…

Looks good, I'll be checking out the NeoSmart stuff. The question is if there are more people like you there. I think you can find a good programmer in any region, but there needs to be a good amount of them in order to create something substantial. So I am yet to be convinced that it's a myth that there's a low amount of talent in Palestine.

I think you should apologise and hang your head in shame! It is simply abhorrent to reason to hear comments such as... x region has no talent, especially in the context of religion, culture or race!

Re: Google To Invest Millions in Palestine

#52

Post by Andrew_Quentin »

Samuel_Michon wrote: post #49
VB6_Forever wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The people of Sussex have long felt themselves to belong to the English nation. Israel captured the West bank in a war. I doubt that the population of the west bank will ever be assimilated and become patriotic Israelis. Religion, let alone nationalism, guarantees this I'd say. Israel (and the US) will eventually tire of having to use the army to control the population. Eventually Israel will have to give it up imo

"Israel captured the West bank in a war." Israel captured it from Jordan in 1967, which had taken it in 1948. Jordan's occupance was recognized by practically noone. Up until that time, it had been part of the British Mandate of 1922, which was an international effort to create a Jewish state. "The territory now known as the West Bank was a part of the British Mandate of Palestine entrusted to the United Kingdom by t…

Had taken it in 1948 from who?

Also, remind everyone, when was Israel created?

Furthermore, isn't the article about Gaza at least partially also, and, isn't Gaza some sort of prison? Finally, is Israel not actually occupying these territories? I mean, is West Bank Israel and by the same token is Gaza Israel too?

Re: Google To Invest Millions in Palestine

#53

Post by Samuel_Michon »

Andrew_Quentin wrote: post #52
Samuel_Michon wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Israel captured the West bank in a war." Israel captured it from Jordan in 1967, which had taken it in 1948. Jordan's occupance was recognized by practically noone. Up until that time, it had been part of the British Mandate of 1922, which was an international effort to create a Jewish state. "The territory now known as the West Bank was a part of the British Mandate of Palestine entrusted to the United Kingdom by t…

Had taken it in 1948 from who? Also, remind everyone, when was Israel created? Furthermore, isn't the article about Gaza at least partially also, and, isn't Gaza some sort of prison? Finally, is Israel not actually occupying these territories? I mean, is West Bank Israel and by the same token is Gaza Israel too?

"Had taken it in 1948 from who?"

Jordan took the West Bank when the British Mandate was terminated. The international community had designated it to become part of the Jewish National Home. This is also why practically noone acknowledged Jordan's rule of the West Bank. Before 1946, Jordan itself was part of the British Mandate. It was separated to create a country where Arabs from the region could live, whereas Palestine would become the Jewish National Home. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Mandate_of_Palestine#Te...

"Also, remind everyone, when was Israel created?"

About 1000 BCE. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Israel_%28united_mon...

"isn't the article about Gaza at least partially also?"

Sure, and Gaza was part of the British Mandate as well. In 1922 it was designated to become part of the Jewish National Home. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Gaza#British_Mandate...

Re: Google To Invest Millions in Palestine

#54

Post by drno »

cool-RR wrote: post #9
talbina wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wonder, why do you think there's no talent there? Do you think Google would have done some due diligence before hand?

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.

The issue is one of awareness. Many of them found themselves abroad, mostly out of necessity, which is why you might not be familiar with their heritage. Or there might be other reasons where you don't interface with them.

To address your third point and name a few notable hackers of mideast and/or muslim heritage that come to mind off the top of my head that you might be familiar with, please see the list below. You likely use all these guys' hacks daily, so the contribution is definitely there. :)

- co-founder of apple (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Jobs)

- founder of admob, omar hamoui (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AdMob)

- taher elgamal, a cryptographer who brought us encryption standards like DSA and SSL /HTTPS (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taher_Elgamal)

- in days past, al khawarizmi brought us algebra (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_ibn_Mūsā_al-Khwārizmī) In fact the word algebra originate from the Arabic al-jabr. So does the word algorithm, which is Latin for his name.

- there are many others, some famous and some nameless - hacking away - in all aspects of technology, medicine, science, etc. but you might not necessarily recognize them as being from that part of the world. Maybe even a coworker...

I hope that alters your perspective - at least somewhat - on the middle east, it's talent and it's role in hacker culture.

Re: Google To Invest Millions in Palestine

#55

Post by _b8r0 »

mixmax wrote: post #45
cool-RR wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

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.

It's not just Israel. Egypt has also denied this to the palestinians in the past (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaza_Strip).

I'm not saying one is good/bad/ugly. Just pointing out that it's not just Israel.

Re: Google To Invest Millions in Palestine

#56

Post by VB6_Forever »

Samuel_Michon wrote: post #53
Andrew_Quentin wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Had taken it in 1948 from who? Also, remind everyone, when was Israel created? Furthermore, isn't the article about Gaza at least partially also, and, isn't Gaza some sort of prison? Finally, is Israel not actually occupying these territories? I mean, is West Bank Israel and by the same token is Gaza Israel too?

"Had taken it in 1948 from who?" Jordan took the West Bank when the British Mandate was terminated. The international community had designated it to become part of the Jewish National Home. This is also why practically noone acknowledged Jordan's rule of the West Bank. Before 1946, Jordan itself was part of the British Mandate. It was separated to create a country where Arabs from the region could live, whereas Pales…

I don't think using ancient history, however well recorded it is or isn't is a good way to decide who owns what. We all came from somewhere else if you go back far enough. The Jews aren't the only ones with historical links to Palestine. It's not just ludicrous it's evil to suggest that white Europeans or Black Ethiopians on the basis of their religion or part of their racial heritage have more right to the territory of Palestine than Palestinians do.

Re: Google To Invest Millions in Palestine

#57

Post by Samuel_Michon »

VB6_Forever wrote: post #56
Samuel_Michon wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Had taken it in 1948 from who?" Jordan took the West Bank when the British Mandate was terminated. The international community had designated it to become part of the Jewish National Home. This is also why practically noone acknowledged Jordan's rule of the West Bank. Before 1946, Jordan itself was part of the British Mandate. It was separated to create a country where Arabs from the region could live, whereas Pales…

I don't think using ancient history, however well recorded it is or isn't is a good way to decide who owns what. We all came from somewhere else if you go back far enough. The Jews aren't the only ones with historical links to Palestine. It's not just ludicrous it's evil to suggest that white Europeans or Black Ethiopians on the basis of their religion or part of their racial heritage have more right to the territory…

My point is that it's unclear to whom the land belongs. By saying that Israel 'occupies' the region it seems like you've already decided.

Jews, Christians and Muslims all have their roots in the region. I believe they should all be able to live there, with a government that respects all faiths. For devout Christians and Jews, it's very difficult to live in Middle Eastern countries other than Israel.

Furthermore, you seem to use the term 'palestinian' as meaning a people originating in the region but different from Middle Eastern Jews and Christians. In reality, to be Palestinian is to have genetic roots in the Levant, it has nothing to do with religion. Many Jews and Orthodox Christians are Palestinians too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinian_people#DNA_and_gene...

Re: Google To Invest Millions in Palestine

#58

Post by babeKnuth »

jacobmg wrote: post #11
talbina wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

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 Palestini…

It's not trolling. Especially since this just came out as well.

http://www.hrw.org/node/95113

Re: Google To Invest Millions in Palestine

#59

Post by babeKnuth »

endtime wrote: post #34
talbina wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

This is the kind of pointless, irrelevant, tired rhetoric that belongs on reddit. I really expected better of HN than to upvote this kind of comment.

Considering the original comment said "Anything which supports/encourages the Palestinians making their own lives better and producing stuff which doesn't explode...", I'm glad they made a reply to it.

Re: Google To Invest Millions in Palestine

#60

Post by VB6_Forever »

Samuel_Michon wrote: post #57
VB6_Forever wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think using ancient history, however well recorded it is or isn't is a good way to decide who owns what. We all came from somewhere else if you go back far enough. The Jews aren't the only ones with historical links to Palestine. It's not just ludicrous it's evil to suggest that white Europeans or Black Ethiopians on the basis of their religion or part of their racial heritage have more right to the territory…

My point is that it's unclear to whom the land belongs. By saying that Israel 'occupies' the region it seems like you've already decided. Jews, Christians and Muslims all have their roots in the region. I believe they should all be able to live there, with a government that respects all faiths. For devout Christians and Jews, it's very difficult to live in Middle Eastern countries other than Israel. Furthermore, you…

Do you have similar doubts as to the ownership of Israel?

I think it's pretty clear that the West Bank belongs to the people who live there, the people commonly referred to as the Palestinians. It certainly shouldn't belong to the people living next door in Israel or to whomever they allow under the protection of Israeli military force to establish settlements there.

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