Most of us are aware of the conflict between Israel and Palestine. But what does Verona, the dating app whose goal is not only to unite couples but also to seek world peace, have to do with it? Read on to find out.
On May 14, the sixty-seventh anniversary of Israel's declaration of independence was observed; more than half a century later, the conflicts between the two peoples continue in a dispute that seems to have no end. While efforts to reach an agreement that would end the matter continue, a group of entrepreneurs based in New York has launched Verona, a dating app that seeks peace in the Middle East. The idea behind Verona is to connect Israelis and Palestinians from a neutral side so they can socialize, with the hope of leaving cultural differences behind.
The Story Behind Verona
The idea for the app, called Verona, comes from the name of the city Shakespeare chose for his play Romeo and Juliet. The founder of Verona, Matthew Nolan, was inspired by the relationship of his Palestinian friend, who met a young Israeli woman in New York and fell in love. "The connection of two groups in conflict may seem like a crazy idea, but it could also work," said Nolan, who is not joking when he says he believes the app could be a step toward peace in the region. Verona, which has the motto "World peace, one swipe at a time," is almost identical to Tinder, the famous dating and hookup app.
How Verona Works
Verona users can sign in with Facebook and create a profile in which they identify as Israeli or Palestinian. Then they upload a photo of themselves, and afterwards, photos of people in their area who identified as the opposite group are shown. Then it's a matter of finding the right person you wish to communicate with. If both match, they can begin chatting.
Verona is free to download in all countries for iOS and Android users. Nolan's team is working hard to expand language selections and develop new and interesting features. If you are an Android user, you can already download the app from the Google Play store, while iOS users will have to wait until June 1 to download their corresponding version of Verona.
