Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., March 13, 2008 Adar2 7, 5768 | | Israel Time: 10:24 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Mepeace founder Eyal Raviv (Daniel Tchetchik) Last update - 23:37 11/03/2008 U.S. immigrant builds bridges with the 'Facebook of peace' By Oded Yaron, Haaretz Correspodent Tags: Eyal Raviv, mepeace.org  At some point, every member of the networking website Facebook is invited to join noble campaigns such as "Save Darfur!," promote causes such as gay rights, support Barack Obama's presidential bid, or join a "save water, drink beer" group. Virtual activism is on the rise thanks to Facebook and other social networks, but in many cases it is not more than another bland item on the profile page. The founder of Mepeace.org, a Web site that connects Israelis, Palestinians and people from other parts of the planet, believes that independent social networks are still relevant. A former yeshiva student, Eyal Raviv says he has gone through a long process of secularization and devoting himself to promote peace. Raviv, who immigrated from the Untied States three years ago, initially conceived his Web site as a forum for Israeli peace activists only. But when he took part in a meeting between Israelis and Palestinians, he says, "a Palestinian told me I was the first Israeli he had met, and that made me realize the site could build bridges between Israelis and Palestinians." Advertisement Despite the green background and the abundance of images of olive trees, Facebook users could feel at home while visiting www.mepeace.org. Featuring updates on the activities of other users and a notice board of peace events, it is a social network in its own right. But the striking resemblance to the most popular social network is not coincidental. "I call it 'the Facebook of peace'," Raviv says. Why not just create another Facebook group? "I already have a Facebook group, and we use it to promote Mepeace; to this end we fully integrate Facebook's photo album, video and music applications. But I do deliberate over this question every day. I could have created much more popular Facebook groups, but here we have peace makers, not momentary visitors - people who are dedicated to reaching out." Related articles: Peres urges world youth to fight anti-Semitism using Facebook CEOs of Facebook and Dell to attend 2009 Jerusalem Conference Number of Israeli Facebook members jumps by 100% since mid-October Bookmark to del.icio.us   Bring the house down Dichter to police: Demolish home of J'lem yeshiva terrorist. Media frenzy Israel to boycott Al-Jazeera TV, claiming incitement to terror.   1.   "U.S. Immigrant" not "Israeli" 19:01  |  POP 11/03/08   2.   Another traitor drinks the "peace coolaide" ... news @ 11pm 19:35  |  pace306 11/03/08   3.   Why do all Israeli "peace activists" ALWAYS end up promoting 19:56  |  spade 11/03/08   4.   An Israeli peace activist = terror apologist and enabler 20:08  |  Shush 11/03/08   5.   Some years ago an Israeli teenager met on Internet one Mona,"lets 20:53  |  Absolute Sweden 11/03/08   6.   a pity 22:16  |  avi 11/03/08   7.   I am Eyal Raviv. Will you join me on mepeace.org? 22:24  |  Eyal Raviv 11/03/08   8.   I am Eyal Raviv. Will you join me on mepeace.org? 22:57  |  Eyal Raviv 11/03/08   9.   Obviously, a noble and important effort 22:57  |  Eyal 11/03/08   10.   Any chance you address the CONSTANT anti-semitism 23:43  |  spade 11/03/08   11.   Amazing site, I just checked it out 23:48  |  Li 11/03/08   12.   Are you going to use this to fight anti-semitism or 23:52  |  V 11/03/08   13.   Be a Mensch: This a very constructive site! 00:23  |  Ariel 12/03/08   14.   No and no thanks either 00:44  |  Catholic Israeli 12/03/08   15.   Congratulations Eyal Raviv 01:12  |  sh 12/03/08   16.   How could you not want peace? 01:42  |  Rivka 12/03/08   17.   Thank you for your support and encouragement 01:42  |  Eyal Raviv 12/03/08   18.   shame on you talkbackers 04:16  |  disgusted 12/03/08   19.   holier than thou... 17:49  |  Israel_Lover 12/03/08   20.   mepeace.org is a platform for peacemakers advancing peace 09:09  |  Eyal Raviv 13/03/08

Today Online FM: Israel to stop West Bank settlement activities Responses: 24 Islamic Jihad fires 15 rockets at Israel, ending week lull Responses: 22 Amira Hass: PA officials should act more like Gandhi Responses: 2 Poll: Half of Jewish public oppose Arabs in their neighborhoods Responses: 11 Wagner show in Nazi-era hall to raise funds for Ramallah venue Responses: 10 Rosner's Domain General Fraser and the third whiner What General Fallon didn't get (WTR) Israeli leadership: A mixture of paranoia and luck Poll: Cease-fire with Hamas, a good idea? How Qassams changed the conflict (WTR) More Headlines 08:47 FM: Israel to stop W. Bank settlement activities 10:07 Islamic Jihad fires 15 rockets at Israel, ending week lull 10:08 Israel and the U.S. / Washington dissatisfied with Israel's footdragging in W. Bank 09:13 Targeted assassination / Little room for mistakes 09:18 Wagner show in Nazi-era hall to raise funds for Ramallah venue 09:51 Poll: Half of Israeli Jews don't want Arabs in their communities 09:58 Body of yeshiva gunman buried in private East J'lem ceremony 09:24 Power plays delay recovery of Shoah restitution body 05:57 Sorry, no more children, hopeful parents told after years of waiting to adopt 08:13 IBA exec tried for indecent acts on minor still runs kids' radio 06:58 Rightist rabbis call on Jews to avenge yeshiva killings 04:35 ANALYSIS: Admiral's break with Bush on Iran lands him on the outs Previous Editions Select Day 12 mar 11 mar 10 mar 09 mar 07 mar 06 mar 05 mar 04 mar 03 mar 02 mar 29 feb 28 feb

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