The atrocious nature of the establishment of the Israeli state in 1948 earned the event the label of ‘Nakba’ or catastrophe from the Palestinians. It marked the beginning of a deep-running ethnic divide that has materialized in the form of a violent border dispute over the decades. Repeated conflicts between the two sides have dashed hopes of a peaceful resolution of the issue. Failed reconciliation efforts marred by bloody violence has caused an ever-increasing rift between people residing in those regions. The increasingly apparent failure of the violent ways of the older generations, however, has prompted the search for an alternative solution. Youths from both sides of the border have launched initiatives, especially on social media, to seek the obstacles in ensuring a peaceful co-existence between the Israelis and Palestinians. Such initiatives have highlighted the isolation from other cultures as a major aggravator of the impact of contentious border issues around the globe. Youths internationally are playing an increasingly crucial role in promoting intercultural dialogue to navigate past the biased media reporting and skewed political narratives that amplify the social impact of border disputes. The success of these efforts has gained traction in recent years, thus putting an increased emphasis on the role of youths in taking meaningful actions for peaceful borders. In this way, youths can circumvent the conventional approach to border disputes by spreading their diverse ideas through social media and unifying their communities to take lasting actions by following political and diplomatic processes.

Social media provides an unparalleled platform for youths to effect the change they want to see in the world. The widespread access to social media unhindered by national and religious boundaries makes it a powerful tool to initiate global conversations. The shackles placed by conflicting states on interregional dialogue breaks down on technological platforms. Along with the resolution of misunderstanding between youths, social networking sites play an important role in spreading political consciousness through the introduction of international ideas and practices. Youths can use social media to create pathways of peace by spreading constructive ideas with others while refraining from spreading hate messages or propaganda. The recent India-Nepal border dispute demonstrated a healthy use of social media from conscious youths to tackle misinformation and further their ideas about the issue. The conscious youths should also ensure a responsible use of social media to tackle the risks posed by a never-ending flow of largely unregulated information in critical situations. Social media acts as an open and uncensored platform for lively online debates where people could express their ideas freely and get constructive feedback from a vast international community. Uniting the diverse ideas under a common umbrella, youths can disseminate information about their situation and their ideas to the international community. The exchange of ideas with the international community fosters healthy dialogue and leads to a mutual solution of the issues.

The contribution of youth in the peacemaking process extends far beyond a peaceful resistance through digital involvement. Youths are responsible for political, social, and economic advancement in their region to tackle border issues innovatively. Technology provides youth with an opportunity to increase their political involvement. Regular access to government activities and independent media coverage leads to greater accountability and the ability to see through political subversions and propaganda. The push for being involved in the decision-making process of the country develops constructive ideas to tackle matters of national interests. Moreover, a refined understanding of the social causes behind conflicts transforms youths into catalysts of social change and protector of human rights of all the parties involved. The social and political advancement of youths yields little gains without the economic progress of the country, however. The diplomatic strength of countries in the international community and bilateral talks is largely determined by the economic might of the country. The India-Nepal border dispute indicates how economic dependence on larger countries brings about a systematized dominance of economically weaker countries. So, the youths need to play a decisive role in effecting economic changes in their countries by building entrepreneurship capacity, improving financial literacy, and enhancing the practical skills of all the citizens in the country. Escaping the clutches of economic and political dependence upon other countries provides equilibrium to the dispute and increases the chances of a mutually agreeable resolution. The social, political, and economic development provides the ability to understand disputes from an independent point of view thus enabling youths to take action for a peaceful solution.

Finally, the fact that violence and war are retrogressive in resolving border disputes is demonstrated by every major border dispute from the ongoing Israel-Palestine and Kashmir issue to the stalled Korean peninsula issue, Crimean annexation issue and the Chinese border conflict with several Southeast Asian countries. Pursuing diplomatic dialogue at the highest levels while maintaining intercultural understanding at the population level is the key to resolving disputes between countries. In these circumstances, youths play a major role in promoting peaceful solutions by fostering intercultural dialogue and ensuring complete accountability from the stakeholders involved. Technological tools have enhanced the ability of youths to effect changes in unity through action plans developed from an independent humanitarian perspective. I believe that ensuring global unity through a peaceful resolution of petty border issues is essential to tackle tangible threats to humanity like the coronavirus pandemic.