How Was Our January 2019 Perspectives Tour?

"The Perspectives Tour presented many different standpoints of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It was such a needed educational experience, and through meeting the different people from both Israel and Palestine, it really helped me get an understanding of the complexities of the conflict by seeing it first hand."

​- Alondra Esquivel Garcia, SF State, ASI-Sophomore Rep.
Who did we meet?

We heard so many different perspectives, including:
  • Mohammed Almasri, Senior party official of Fatah (Palestinian controlling authority in West Bank)
  • Palestinian students in Ramallah
  • Residents of Israeli kibbutz of Netiv HaAsara, along border with Gaza
  • Residents of Aida Palestinian refugee camp in Bethlehem
  • Oded Reviv, Mayor of Efrat, the original West Bank settlement bloc
  • Miri Eisen, Israeli peace negotiator who took part in peace talks with the Palestinian Authority
  • Khaled Abu Toameh, Arab Israeli Journalist
  • Small business owners in East Jerusalem
  • Ihab Balha, peace activist, and founder of nursery for Jewish and Muslim children
  • Students at Kids4Peace grassroots interfaith movement
  • African refugees activists​
"The trip was a great combination of tourism, education and just a fun overall experience with my peers. We were presented with several different perspectives and were allowed to speak freely about our opinions. I left [the trip] with a lot of information and memories that will last a lifetime."
​- Laura Okugbe, SF State, member of African Student Union
Where did we go?

We went all over! Sites included:
  • Jerusalem
    • ​Religious sites including the Temple Mount/Haram esh-Sharif, the Western Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Via Dolorosa, 
    • Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center 
    • Light rail tour to East Jerusalem
    • Kids4Peace
    • Mahane Yehuda market
  • Bethlehem
    • ​Aida Palestinian Refugee Camp
    • Banksy grafitti at Separation Barrier/wall
    • Church of the Nativity
  • Ramallah
    • ​Mukata'a, Headquarters of the Palestinian Authority and burial site of Yasser Arafat
    • Brief stop in Al-Amari Palestinian refugee camp
    • Tybeh Brewery (in Christian Palestinian village outside Ramallah)
  • Dead Sea and Judean Desert
    • ​Floating in Dead Sea
    • Jordan River Valley
    • Kibbutz tour
    • Mount of Beatitude
  • Tel Aviv
    • Aguda - LGBTQ activist group
    • ​Save a Child's Heart
    • Peres Center for Peace & Innovation
    • Rothschild Boulevard
    • Orchard of Abraham's Children
    • Jaffa
  • Golan Heights
    • ​Off-Road Jeep Tour
    • Mt. Ben-Tal
    • Druze village
    • Border with Lebanon​
"I gained a unique experience of traveling to the Holy Land and seeing and hearing the Israeli and Palestinian narratives. Not only did I learn more about the conflict, but more importantly I felt the humanity and resiliency both the Israelis and Palestinians share that bring hope to a peaceful coexistence.."
​- Gian Carlo Baldonado, SF State, member of Filipino Student Union
Want to join the diverse and open-minded group of SF State student leaders on our next educational trip during Winter Break 2020/2021? Click below!