Torn by war, Israelis and Palestinians tie their fortunes together

National Torn by war, Israelis and Palestinians tie their fortunes together May 24, 20265:00 AM ET By  Tovia Smith This year's cohort of Israeli and Palestinian entrepreneurs taking part in 50:50 Startups is smaller than usual, because the war prevented many from travelling. 50:50 co-founder Amir Grinsteen (third from right) founded the program seven years ago, believing that building businesses together would also build lasting bridges, that could advance the cause of peace. Dena Yadin hide caption toggle caption Dena Yadin BOSTON - Salah Hussein was 11 years old when he was woken up in the middle of the night by Israeli soldiers in his family home in Nablus in the West Bank. It left him traumatized and terrified for years. It was "triggering" to see any Israeli in uniform, he says. "For me, all of them were a threat." But decades later, Hussein, now a 33-year-old entrepreneur, has willingly and purposefully tied his fortune to his co-founder, who is an Israeli Jew. Hussein is one of about 35 entrepreneurs taking part in a start-up accelerator program called 50:50 Startups, where mixed teams of Palestinians, Israeli Arabs and Israeli Jews spend six months in a kind of business bootcamp, going to workshops, lectures and connecting with mentors. The program culminates with a session in Boston, where the entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to potential investors. Sponsor Message The cross-the-divide collaboration brings an extra layer of challenge to what is already a heavy lift. By most estimates, about 90% of startups fail. But Hussein is fiercely determined, not only because of pragmatic considerations, like the need for resources and access to capital for his business, but also the more lofty ideals. Salah Hussein, a Palestinian from Nablus, is excited about investors' interest in his venture that uses AI and cameras to detect and prevent greenhouse pests. Tovia Smith/NPR hide caption toggle caption Tovia Smith/NPR "If we are not the ones looking for change, who...