Itinerary will include these (or similar) activities:

Oct 14: Arrive in Bethlehem, Stay 8 nights in The Holy Land Hotel on Al Karkfah Street

Key Visits and Experiences in the Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and Ramallah Area:

• Visit and meet leaders of Wi’am (Palestinian Conflict Resolution Center) to learn about the social/spiritual/political situation in the West Bank
• Tour Aida Refugee Camp, visit Al Rowwad Community Center and the Seraj Library
• Worship on Sunday morning with Christmas Lutheran Church, Bethlehem
• Visit/tour St. George’s Cathedral, Jerusalem; meet with Bishop Hosam Naoum at the Cathedral if possible
• Attend briefing by United Nations OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories)
• Tour Jerusalem and Bethlehem holy sites with Christian guides
• Visit the Ramallah offices of Defense for Children International-Palestine
• In the Old City of Jerusalem, get a guided tour of Al Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem. Then walk along the Via Dolorosa and visit the Western Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Hebron and the area South of Bethlehem:

Hikes in two very different natural environments: a fertile agricultural valley and a Bedouin camp in the desert

• Bus into the desert to visit a Bedouin camp, hike in the desert (or rest and watch the camels), share a meal, and enjoy a performance by a Bedouin poet/musician
• Enjoy an optional three-kilometer hike through a beautiful valley with Usama from Al Walajeh to Battir (a UNESCO heritage site, with Roman-era terraces still sharing water from a local spring)
• Those who choose not to hike will have a free half-day in Bethlehem, with optional activities suggested

Oct 22 Travel from Bethlehem through the West Bank to Ibillin

• Meet with Abuna Firas Khoury Diab in Zababdeh; hear his stories of the “Living Stones” of Palestine
• Nablus: Visit the Jacob’s Well Church and enjoy a break for Knafeh
• Sebastia: Have lunch at Samaria Restaurant and visit the ancient Roman and biblical archeological sites
• Burqin: Visit the Church of the Ten Lepers
• Cross from the West Bank into Israel at the Jalameh checkpoint

Oct 22-25: Stay 3 nights in Ibillin at the Guesthouse at the Mar Elias Schools In Ibillin

Visit Mar Elias High School and Mariam Bawardi grade school English classes and Learning Center

• Interact with students on campus – enjoy their excitement and welcome
• Visit Mar Elias High School and Mariam Bawardi grade school English classes and Learning Center
• Meet with key MEEI leaders: Abuna Elias Chacour, Emil Haloun, Elias Abu Ghanima, English teachers, Guesthouse hosts
• Tour campus including Church of the Sermon on the Mount and the Auditorium with its Reconciliation Mural

Biram and the Sea of Galilee Holy Sites

• Visit Abuna Chacour’s home village of Biram with a native of the village
• Tabgha: Church of the Loaves and Fishes, Primacy of Peter (also at Tabgha), Capernaum, Mt. of Beatitudes
• Boat ride on Sea of Galilee (in small boats, reminiscent of first century fishing boats)

Nazareth Area:

• Visit and have lunch at the Liwan Cultural Café in Old City of Nazareth
• In Nazareth, visit Al Tufula Center for Women and Children, and leader, Nabila Espanioly
• Visit Sisters of Nazareth Convent and excavations of first century home and church
• Visit Annunciation Churches (Greek Orthodox and Latin Catholic Basilica)

Oct 25-26: Depart 10/25 for home from Tel Aviv, late night flight TLV-JFK; 1/26, arrive at home airport in the US

Fees and Leadership:

Cost $2,500 per person program fee, double occupancy. Single Supplement, $500.
Fee includes hotels, ground transportation, tours, tips, breakfast & dinner daily, most lunches.
Fee DOES NOT include cost of airfare*, travel insurance, beverages with meals, 4 lunches, personal items.
(If the USA still requires COVID tests in October to re-enter the USA, the cost of a rapid test in Israel will also be the participant’s responsibility.)
Led by Rev. Joan Deming, Rev. Charlie Lewis, and Usama Nicola.
Call or email Joan with questions: 608-235-1046 ~ [email protected]
Register early to assure your spot in this unique tour. $500 due with registration.

Travel Agency Information

We ask you to make travel arrangements for this trip using our travel agent, Joy Harris of Direct Travel in Lynnwood, Washington. Doing so will help Joy coordinate group members’ travel information so we can all have the best group experience. We have 20 Group tickets reserved on Delta Airlines, flying from your home airport through JFK to Tel Aviv. The price from Seattle to Tel Aviv round trip is $1390. If you need to fly on a different schedule, or if your departing airport is not Seattle, Joy can help arrange those variances, still using the group tickets. Contact Joy for more information: 800.622.3342, 425.775.1595, or [email protected].

Given the uncertainties of travel in the age of COVID, Meeting Peacemakers LLC is requiring that group participants be fully vaccinated (with appropriate boosters) unless you have a medical exception. You will also need to purchase comprehensive travel insurance (including health, baggage, and trip interruption coverage) on your own.

Please provide a photocopy of your passport signature page and confirmation of travel insurance to Joan by October 1st.