Come to Palestine, come stay with friends

[Violet_Crumble]

WASHINGTON - Registration for the upcoming season of Palestine Summer Encounter (PSE) is at its height. After a successful first season last year, organizers hope dozens of American students will take part in the program this time. The brochure promises prospective participants a trip "designed to develop relationships, break down stereotypes, foster philanthropic efforts and forge strategic partnerships to strengthen communities in the region," through living and studying in the Bethlehem area.

Interested students are asked to fill out a form stating why they want to participate. According to the organizers, most list a variety of reasons, such as desire to get to know the region, study Arabic and work with nongovernmental organizations. Some are majoring in Middle East studies, a few come from Arab-American families, a few are American Jews, and others just happen to be interested. Nearly all say they shied away from visiting the area till now because of the cost and that one PSE attraction was its reasonable price. But regardless of background, after a summer in the Palestinian territories, participants come away with a clear political picture.

"In many media outlets, you don't hear of the violence in the context of occupation, but only in the context of irrationality. You do not hear the complaints of the Palestinians as much as you hear those of the Israelis," says Jason Drake, 33, who spent last summer in the area.

Nathaniel, 23, a student at American University in Washington, was mostly perturbed by obstacles to Palestinians' mobility and the harm he thinks the settlements wreak on the Palestinians' living conditions. When his host family in Beit Sahur held an engagement party, Nathaniel learned firsthand about the obstacles visitors had to overcome to attend.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/539835.html

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Sounds like a Palestinian kibbutz experience.

I would like to see people from outside the region learn more about the Palestian experience firsthand, such as the multitude of "camps" where some families have been living for decades, and their lives affected by curtailing of their ability to earn a living.

[bemildred]

2. Dang it Violet, I'd almost forgotten that advertisement. nt