The United Abrahamic Family (TUAFI), a largely anonymous company, made up of “peace-loving people who believe that conflicts between Christians, Muslims and Jews are not only destructive, but also personally painful to the mutual descendants of Abraham,” has launched its artificial Menorah Islands project, with a long-term strategy for “spreading its message of peace through economic cooperation and pursuit of shared interests.”
The concept envisions a group of nine artificial islands off the coast of Israel in the Mediterranean Sea.
“They (the islands) would serve as a forum for collaboration and dialogue between peoples of all Middle Eastern nations, a place to concentrate on growth that could occur when people of all backgrounds collaborate,” according to the Menorah Islands kickstarter-style website, themenorahislands.com.
A press release issued Tuesday says TUAFI’s major focus revolves around scientific and technological advancements that could benefit the entire globe, from medicine to earth sciences.
“Districts for learning and science… will be an idealized example of what the future on Planet Earth and beyond can look like,” according to TUAFI.
TUAFI also aims to create an area with enough jobs to help boost Israel’s overall economy, and, even more important: plentiful housing just outside Tel Aviv.
Their online fundraising campaign boasts 31,203 supporters, who have to date donated a combined $129,500. Not quite the amount required to raise nine, off-shore landfill islands. But most dreams start small (many end small, too).
The website is disturbingly anonymous, which, coupled with its strong, interfaith message, as well as passing references to Christian writings in its blog posts, suggests it is an evangelical venture—although it goes out of its way to avoid identifying itself as such.
