For at least 30 years I've been traveling to Israel twice a year to visit my family who lives there.  I know the terrain; I speak the language, though rudimentary.  I move around with confidence and would never consider going with a tour group because I don't need to -- except that four times now I've traveled to Israel with Americans for Peace Now on their Study Tour and barring anything unforeseen I expect to do it again in early 2019.

  Why the exception for APN?  Because APN gives me access to people and places I would never encounter on my own or on a synagogue tour.   I know of a Reform Temple that takes its members to Masada to commemorate Jews' heroism of 2,000 years ago.  APN has taken us to Hebron to see first-hand the shameful effect of 50 years of occupying the West Bank.....and then to meet with activists who are pushing back against a seemingly intractrable conflict which in fact does have a solution. This is the real Israel which we as American Jews need to see if we're to fight for the country we care deeply about.

   On past Study Tours we've met with Saeb Erekat, Chief Palestinian Negotiator since the Oslo Agreement was hammered out.  We also met Husam Zomlot, a brilliant Palestinian economist who is now the Palestinian envoy to the U.S. We spent time in Ramallah, a thriving city which serves as the Palestinian Authority's capital, and visited Rawabi, a new city built by Palestinians which utilizes state-of-the art technology.  We saw checkpoints and met activists in refugee camps. We connected with high-level policy-makers and ordinary citizen activists.

    Back in Israel proper we spent an afternoon with Members of the Knesset who ranged from all the way Left to their counterparts at the edge of the Right.  Another session at Israel's leading security studies think tank was followed by a meeting with activists in the most effective NGOs pushing back as hard as they can against draconian anti-democratic laws winding their way through the Knesset.as well as fighting the seemingly-endless Occupation.

    We also have time to savor the famed restaurants of Tel Aviv, and do some sightseeing in Jerusalem but the real purpose of the Tour is to encounter Israel-behind-the headlines.  I think we do it better than any other NGO.

    If I've piqued your interest in seeing the real Israel, please add your name to the mailing list by sending an email to israeltour@peacenow.org   We'll keep you updated as we construct the program.

    Barbara Green