Cisco Systems has announced plans to invest $2 million in an overhaul of the Internet infrastructure in the northern Israel Arab town of Nazareth and its Jewish suburb, Upper Nazareth.
Cisco officials revealed the initiative in a meeting with Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres, who responded by saying it would further strengthen relations between the two towns and expand education opportunities in the areas of science and technology.
In addition to facilitating education, the project is aimed at tightly integrating public services to the residents of both towns, who have already greatly benefited from coexistence projects sponsored by Cisco.
The global technology firm has for years operated a school in Nazareth catering to both Jews and Arabs who wish to obtain computer networking certification. Even during the most violent periods of the past decade, the school has been described as an oasis of coexistence.