WASHINGTON: The American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) and Americans for Peace Now (APN) started their joint summer internship program on Thursday.

ATFP is hosting an Israeli student, and APN is hosting a Palestinian student. This is the third time that ATFP and APN, a pro-Palestinian organization and a pro-Israeli organization, are cooperating on a joint internship program, making it a tradition intended to underscore that Americans who care about Middle East peace — be they Arab or Jewish — have more in common than what sets them apart.

The two interns are part of a group of students — Israelis and Palestinians — who are participating in the summer program of New Story Leadership, a locally based organization that offers young adults from both sides of the conflict a transformative leadership experience in Washington.

Debra DeLee, APN’s President and CEO, said: “This program is about much more than mentoring two students who will return to their communities better equipped to advocate for peace. This is about sending a message that Israelis and Palestinians — future leaders from both sides — as well as Jewish and Arab Americans, are struggling together to promote Middle East peace.”

Ziad Asali, ATFP’s president said: “ATFP takes great pride in continuing this joint innovative internship program with APN. It provides a unique opportunity to allow Palestinian and Israeli students to explore the possibilities of mutual understanding and respect as they share knowledge and experience. We hope it will inspire them and others to work together towards creating an independent Palestine living alongside a secure Israel in a peaceful and prosperous Middle East.”

ATFP and APN cooperate on a range of other programs, including joint speaking events.

ATFP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan Palestinian-American organization. It advocates that an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement based on two states is in the American national interest.

APN, the sister organization of Peace Now, Israel’s largest peace movement, is a leading American Jewish organization advocating peace for Israel.