Draft itinerary for information purposes only. Subject to change.
June 2nd – June 8th, 2015
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Introductions and Orientation at the Inbal Hotel
Shaping Israel’s Image: How to be an Effective Advocate – David Olesker, Jerusalem Center for Communication and Advocacy Training
Lunch at the Inbal Hotel
Leave for i24news – an international 24-hour news and current affairs television channel based in Jaffa Port, Tel Aviv, which broadcasts in English, French and Arabic. Meet Lucy Aharish , the first Arab news presenter on mainstream Israeli TV, who is one of the channel’s leading anchors.
Dinner at “Meat & Eat” in Tel Aviv Port, an elegant meat restaurant, combining the tastes of French and Mediterranean cuisine
Return to Jerusalem.
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Travel to MediaCentral, Israel’s premier bureau for overseas correspondents
- Serving the Foreign Press in Israel – Aryeh Green, Director, MediaCentral
- Understanding Media Bias – Simon Plosker, Managing Editor, HonestReporting
Bus to the Western Wall: a living testimony to the strength and resilience of the Jewish nation, for private time and reflection, followed by lunch at“Between the Arches” – an ancient crusader cistern, converted into an upscale restaurant underneath the Old City of Jerusalem
Tour of the Western Wall Tunnels with Lee Glassman, Tour Guide, Historian & Jerusalem Expert
Bus to HonestReporting International Headquarters
Taking the Battle Against Terrorism into the Courts – Nitsana Leitner, Esq. Director, Israel Legal Center; providing legal representation and resources for courtroom struggles on behalf of the Jewish State
Free evening to enjoy Jerusalem
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Ethics in the Field: An Inside Look at the IDF – IDF Colonel (res.) Ben-Tzion “Bentzi” Gruber
Field trip with Patrick Amar, Tour Guide and professional Israel Advocate
- Bus leaves for closed door briefing at the Gaza Border Crossing for an overview of the region plus briefings by IDF spokesperson responsible for humanitarian aid into Gaza
- Visit Kibbutz Alumim, located 3km from the Gaza border for lunch tour. Meet families who are living under fire
- View a sample of the rockets that have been fired into Sderot in recent months.
Return to Jerusalem for dinner.
Friday, June 5, 2015
Bus leaves for visit to Gush Etzion with Yarden Frankl, Director of Special Projects, HonestReporting
- Background to the issue of settlements
- Tour of the Eastern Gush and Herodian
- Topographic view and history of the region from Neve Daniel lookout
- Common Ground: Meet an Israeli Settler and a Palestinian who joined together to work the land Leave Neve Daniel for the Elazar outpost for meeting with local activists
- Lunch at Gavna – a hilltop restaurant with a panoramic view
Return to Jerusalem; free time to prepare for Shabbat
Bus leaves for a traditional Shabbat dinner, with IDF soldiers, guests and loads of atmosphere in Rechavia. Walk back to the Inbal hotel
Shabbat: Saturday, June 6, 2015
Optional Shabbat morning services in congregations throughout Jerusalem (options available from hotel concierge)
Home hospitality with English-speaking families who have made their homes in Jerusalem
Special Guest Speakers
- What Arabs in the Region are Really Thinking – Khaled Abu Toameh, Israeli Arab, West Bank and Gaza correspondent for The Jerusalem Post, and The U.S. News and World Report
- To be a Christian in the Middle East – Rev. Petra Heldt leads a frank discussion regarding Christianity in Israel and in the Middle East
Buffet-style third meal at the Inbal hotel
Israel Advocacy to Identity Zionism – Gil Troy,Professor of History & Author of Moynihan’s Moment: America’s Fight Against Zionism as Racism.
Havdalah – bringing Shabbat to a close in the traditional way
Free evening (shops open approx. 9:00 pm)
Sunday, June 7, 2015
Travel North for full-day with Elliot Chodoff, Military Analyst, IDF Major (res.)
- Discuss neighborhood security issues
- Meet Dr. Michael Harari, at Ziv Hospital, Safed, where Israel is treating Syrian victims of war
- Continue north for a military overlook from Mount Baram on the Lebanese border
- Dine and wine at the award-winning Golan Winery
- Mitzpe Gadot overlook of the Hula valley from the Golan Heights
Monday, June 8, 2015
Monitoring Palestinian Media – Itamar Marcus, Palestinian Media Watch a Watchdog group that monitors Palestinian media for incitement to violence and anti-Israel propaganda.
NGOs, Human Rights and the Campaign to Demonize Israel – Yitzchak Santis, Programs Director, NGO Monitor, Jerusalem
Check out for those leaving today
Lunch at the Inbal Hotel
Candidly Speaking – Isi Leibler, veteran Diaspora Jewish leader and prolific commentator on Jewish and Israeli affairs
How to Effectively Advocate for Israel: Practical Training – Neil Lazarus, Director of AwesomeSeminars.com
Closing dinner and summary in the beautiful Little Jerusalem Anna Ticho House, one of the first homes in Jerusalem built outside the Old City walls
Transfer to Ben-Gurion Airport for those flying tonight
