Olive Co-operative Dialogue Study Tour 2009
From Monday 2nd November
Eight nights for £750, six nights for £575

We are pleased to announce the 2009 Dialogue Study Tour of Israel and the West Bank, organised by Olive Co-operative for Windows for Peace (UK) supporters, and others with an interest in learning from dialogue groups in the region. Participants will have the opportunity to meet grassroots organisations working for a just and viable peace, addressing the difficult issues of how to break away from conflict and build a mutually respectful and peaceful future.

This tour will provide a number of perspectives of life in the Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, from the unrecognised Bedouin villages of the Negev, to the Jewish and Palestinian village of Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam (Oasis of Peace) in Israel. Tour highlights include the Olive Harvest Festival in Jenin, hosted by the groundbreaking Palestinian Fair Trade Association, and alternative tours of Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Jaffa. Tour participants will visit, with local guides, a range of people, villages and towns on both sides of the divide, and meet active members of Windows Channels for Communication in Israel and the OPT.

The group will benefit from an experienced Olive guide throughout, who speaks English, Hebrew
and Arabic. Accommodation has been designed to be as varied as possible, with overnight stays
in hotels in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, a permaculture centre in Bethlehem and Palestinian families in
Jenin.

Itinerary

Monday, 2nd November
Arrival at Ben Gurion airport and transfer to hotel in Tel Aviv. Meeting with tour group and
briefing with Olive tour guide.

Tuesday, 3rd November
Meeting and briefing with staff at the Windows Channels for Communication office.
Afternoon Alternative Tour of Jaffa presenting the situation of Palestinian Citizens of Israel.
Evening meeting with refuseniks, young Israelis who have refused to serve in the Israeli military.
Overnight at hotel, Tel Aviv.

Wednesday, 4th November
Travel to the Negev. Tour of the Negev, to visit unrecognised Bedouin villages, an ‘official’
Bedouin township and a Bedouin women’s weaving co-operative. Lunch with a Bedouin family.
Travel to Bethlehem through the South Hebron Hills and meeting with Palestinian farmer.
Overnight at the Bustan Qaraaka (Tortoise Garden), Bethlehem. A permaculture centre
established by internationals, this project carries out environmental educational activities with local
Palestinian youth and aims to address and combat the degradation of the environment, and to
actively pursue the conservation of native species.

Thursday, 5th November
Half day tour of Bethlehem with the Alternative Tourism Group, to visit the Church of the Nativity,
the UN school in Deheishe refugee camp, the Ibdaa Cultural Centre in Deheishe refugee camp and
meeting with the women’s embroidery co-operative.
Free time in afternoon to explore Bethlehem and/or Beit Sahour.
Afternoon/evening meeting with Windows Youth Group and facilitators.
Overnight in Bustan Qaraaka, Bethlehem.

Friday, 6th November
Travel to Jenin. Meeting with young Windows journalist from Jalkamus.
Celebration of the Olive Harvest Festival with the Palestinian Fair Trade Association/Caanan Fair
Trade. Possible visit to the Freedom Theatre.
Overnight stay with Palestinian families, Jenin

Saturday, 7th November
Travel to Ramallah. Meeting and touring with Najeh Abu Shamsiyeh, co-director of Windows
Channels for Communication. Travel to Jerusalem.
Evening meeting with Israeli human rights organisation B’tselem and/or the Coalition of Women
for Peace.
Overnight in Knight’s Palace hotel, Jerusalem - Old City.

Sunday, 8th November
Tour of Jerusalem with the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICHAD) to see the Wall,
roads and tunnels that connect to Jewish settlements while isolating Palestinian neighbourhoods,
and sites where Palestinian homes have been demolished.
Free afternoon in Jerusalem to visit sights.
Evening meeting with Parents Circle - Families Forum, a grassroots organisation of bereaved
Israelis and Palestinians.
Overnight in Knight’s Palace hotel, Jerusalem - Old City.

Monday, 9th November
Free morning to visit sights in Jerusalem.
Travel to Neve Shalom, / Wahat al-Salam (Oasis of Peace). A village, jointly established by Jewish
and Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel, which is engaged in educational work for peace, equality
and understanding between the two peoples.
Evening get-together with Windows team, volunteers and tour participants.
Overnight in hotel in Tel Aviv.

Tuesday, 10th November
Morning workshop in Windows office to process the week’s experience.
Travel to airport and depart.

Please note:
Tour price includes all local travel, tours, accommodation, breakfasts and donations to groups
visited. Prices are exclusive of flights and airport transfers.

We welcome people from all cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds, whilst being sensitive to
the life and culture locally. If any part of the tour clashes with a participant’s religious observances
we will try to make alternative arrangements. More information on travelling in the region is
available from Olive Co-op’s Guidance Notes, at www.olivecoop.com/tours/guidance-notes.

All itineraries are subject to change due to local circumstances and to ensure tour customer safety
and security.

For more information and to book a place on the tour, please contact leonie@olivecoop.com or call
the Olive office on +44 (0)1706 815490. To discuss the tour with a Windows representative, contact
penny@windowsforpeaceuk.org or call 07813338505. Booking forms can be downloaded from
the Olive and Windows websites, www.olivecoop.com/tours/olive-tours and
www.windowsforpeaceuk.org/events.