Olive Co-op Tours 2009

Dialogue Study Tour
From Monday 2nd November
Eight nights for £725, 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 explore a number of perspectives of life in the region, 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.  The group will meet with the Parent’s Circle – Bereaved Families Forum, Israeli refuseniks and Palestinian women’s handicraft co-operatives.  Tour participants will also visit a refugee camp, see the impact of the Wall and settlements on Palestinian territories, and gain insight from some truly inspiring individuals and organisations.

Accommodation has also been designed to give as varied experience as possible, with overnight stays at a permaculture organic farm in Bethlehem, allowing participants to understand the conservation of native species; staying with families in Jenin and gaining personal knowledge of the community, and in hotels in Jerusalem Old City and Tel Aviv, with free time to explore the cities.  To enhance the tour, participants will be joined throughout by an experienced Guide from the UK, who also speaks Hebrew and Arabic, as well as local guides on the trips.

For a full itinerary, see Dialogue Tour 2009.  For more information, please contact leonie@olivecoop.com or call +44 (0)1706 815490.

Bespoke tours

In 2009 Olive Co-operative is focusing on our bespoke tours, which are designed around the particular interests of the groups that request them.  Each tour offers participants the opportunity to visit this beautiful area and to meet inspiring Palestinian and Israeli organisations working in professional and voluntary capacities to contribute to a just and lasting peace in the region. Building on our extensive knowledge of a spectrum of civil society organisations, our customers design their tours to suit their interests, availability and budget.  See our tailor-made tours to Palestine and Israel section for more information.

Intensive Beginner’s Arabic Courses in Bethlehem

Olive Cooperative offers Arabic courses that are tailored to the standard of Arabic of the participants.  Courses are available for individuals or groups, with a choice to focus on spoken or written Arabic.  The Palestinian dialect is considered ‘central’, and will enable you to understand and be understood across the Arab world.  For more information see our Arabic language courses section.

Other Tour Groups

A number of other excellent organisations run tours to Palestine and Israel.  Click here for more information.

Download our Travel Guidance Notes