The historical wisdom, echoed by figures like Tom Mann and Sri Aurobindo, holds true: “The future belongs to the young.”
Yet, Israel’s reality in 2025 is a complex paradox for this generation. Under a constant shadow of war, both internally and externally, every sector feels the strain. Jewish and Arab communities grapple with rupture, loss, post-trauma, and severe economic and social uncertainty.
Young people, aged 20-35, bear the heaviest burden. They are soldiers on the front lines, working parents navigating economic strain, and young Arab citizens facing immense challenges of belonging, often amidst hostility and exclusion. The painful irony is stark: The future is theirs, but their influence over shaping it feels minimal. This is a reality we must fundamentally change.
Israel consistently finds itself in cycles of unresolved conflicts, passing a legacy of deep-seated problems to each successive generation. However, the current generation, forged by events like October 7 and the ensuing months of war and uncertainty, possesses a unique potential.
A living model of cross-community collaboration
Unlike their predecessors, they are not beholden to old conceptions. They are “digital natives,” open to innovative trends, diverse perspectives, and adaptive to rapidly changing realities. Their inherent connection to a global, multicultural world makes cross-community collaborations, such as between Jews and Arabs, a daily working and living model, especially within the dynamic environment of hi-tech.
This generation’s power stems from their mental and creative flexibility, their fervent aspiration for different lives, and their deep desire to raise their children in a better future, aligned with their values. They seek “human agency,” the ability to actively influence their lives rather than being passively defined by predetermined fate.
When this innovative young force fully recognizes its power, it will become an unprecedented catalyst for change, mobilizing resources and rallying others to create a significant, broad movement. They will not succumb to the heavy burdens, but will rise to shape the future they and their children deserve.
The path to change is arduous, fraught with internal and external challenges: budget cuts to diversity initiatives, security events that erode trust, and persistent social prejudices. Yet, amid these obstacles, a steadfast determination among young people and social initiatives refuses to yield to despair.
They find creative and innovative ways to continue acting, building, and connecting. They understand they cannot afford to abandon a vision of a shared future, as it is the very future in which they will live and raise their children.
These are not merely reactive voices. They actively strive to shape policy and public discourse.
Creating sustainable change in Israel
Through civil initiatives, technological and social collaborations, and open dialogue, young people demand a seat at the decision-making table. They are proving to be the true driving force for deep and sustainable change in Israel.
Sociological insights underpin this approach. Gordon Allport’s Intergroup Contact Theory offers a key to coexistence: When members of different groups (such as Jews and Arabs) meet and interact under appropriate conditions – equal status, common goals, cooperation, and supportive norms – it can significantly reduce prejudice and build trust. Organizations like Tsofen-Tashbik, an Arab-Jewish partnership established in 2008, transform this theory into reality.
Our work integrates Arab engineers and late-stage students into the Israeli hi-tech sector. Through shared professional endeavors, we foster these daily human connections, proving they are the foundational bricks for a reformed society. We guide individuals from campus to placement, ensuring they find suitable roles across diverse employment models.
Community Resilience Theory further teaches that communities can emerge stronger from crises by building connections and empowering the young. Collective consciousness and action transform individual desires into powerful movements. Young people, particularly within hi-tech environments and civil initiatives, exemplify this resilience, actively driving not just technological but also social innovation.
Invest in the youth; invest in our shared future. The future of Israel, in all its complexity, lies in the hands and spirit of its youth – both Jewish and Arab. Anyone who believes in a future of peace and shared prosperity must recognize their power and actively support organizations like Tsofen-Tashbik. Investing in us is a direct investment in a generation not trapped by past conflicts, a generation adept with innovative tools and perspectives, and a generation motivated to create a better economic and social reality for all.
Together, we must increase the light. Only then can we banish the darkness of hatred, division, and war.
Maisam Jaljuli is CEO and Boozy Merav Boaz is deputy CEO of Tsofen-Tashbik.