Draft itinerary for information purposes only. Subject to change.
November 16th – 23rd, 2015
Monday, November 16
Check in to Inbal Hotel; HonestReporting hospitality desk open from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Tuesday, November 17
Introductions and Orientation at the Inbal Hotel
“Shaping Israel’s Image: How to be an Effective Advocate” – David Olesker, Jerusalem Center for Communication and Advocacy Training
“Challenges Facing Israel From Without and Within” – Col. Miri Eisin (Retd), Former Spokesperson for the Prime Minister
Lunch at Inbal Hotel
Leave for i24news – an international 24-hour news and current affairs television channel which broadcasts in English, French and Arabic; based in Jaffa Port, Tel Aviv; meet Frank Melloul, CEO
“ISIS On Israel’s Border: Undercover & Behind Enemy Lines” – Itai Anghel, Israeli reporter speaking from his personal experiences
Dinner at Refael, a superb Bukharan grill restaurant in Tel Aviv
Wednesday, November 18th
Travel to MediaCentral, Israel’s premier bureau for overseas correspondents
“Serving the Foreign Press in Israel” – Aryeh Green, Director, MediaCentral
“Understanding Media Bias” – Simon Plosker, Managing Editor, HonestReporting
“NGOs, Human Rights and the Campaign to Demonize Israel” – Yitzchak Santis, Programs Director, NGO Monitor, Jerusalem
Bus to the Western Wall – a living testimony to the strength and resilience of the Jewish nation, for private time and reflection
Lunch at Between the Arches, an ancient crusader cistern converted into an upscale restaurant underneath the Old City of Jerusalem
Tour of the Western Wall Tunnels with Lee Glassman, tour guide, historian, and Jerusalem expert
Bus to HonestReporting International Headquarters
“Monitoring Palestinian Media” – Itamar Marcus, Palestinian Media Watch, a watchdog group that monitors Palestinian media for incitement to violence and anti-Israel propaganda
Free evening to enjoy Jerusalem
Thursday, November 19th
Understanding the Challenges of the Negev: A full-day field trip with Ari Briggs, Director, Regavim
Visit numerous Bedouin towns and villages
Discuss the complicated issue of Bedouin settlement from several perspectives
Learn to separate fact from fiction
Meet locals living in the area
Return to Jerusalem for dinner at Keyara, a unique restaurant in the Rechavia neighborhood
Friday, November 20th
Bus leaves for visit to Gush Etzion bloc with Yarden Frankl, Director of Special Projects, HonestReporting
Background to the issue of settlements
Tour of the Eastern Gush and Herodian
Topographic view and history of the region from Neve Daniel lookout
Common Ground: Meet an Israeli settler and a Palestinian who joined together to work the land
Audio/Visual on the history of the region at Kibbutz Kfar Etzion
Lunch at Gavna, a hilltop restaurant with a panoramic view
Return to Jerusalem; free time to prepare for Shabbat
“Israel Advocacy to Identity Zionism” – Gil Troy, Professor of History and author of Moynihan’s Moment: America’s Fight Against Zionism as Racism
Join HonestReporting staff and their families for a traditional Shabbat dinner, with IDF soldiers, invited guests, and loads of atmosphere
Shabbat, Saturday, November 21st
Optional Shabbat morning services in Congregations throughout Jerusalem (options available from hotel concierge)
Family-style Shabbat lunch at the Inbal hotel
“Reporting from the Middle East” – Khaled Abu Toameh, Israeli Arab journalist, West Bank and Gaza correspondent for The Jerusalem Post and U.S. News and World Report
“Candidly Speaking” – Isi Leibler, veteran Diaspora Jewish leader and prolific commentator on Jewish and Israeli affairs
Havdalah – bringing the Shabbat to a close in the traditional way
Free evening (shops open approximately 6:00 pm)
Sunday, November 22nd
“The Treatment of Minorities in Israel” – A full day trip to the north with Patrick Amar, tour guide and Israel advocate
Travel up the Jordan Valley; discuss security issues
Continue to Tzfat to meet Dr. Michael Harari at Ziv Hospital, where Israel is treating Syrian victims of war
Israeli lunch in Tzfat, a picturesque city of spiritual people and artists, wrapped in mysticism and mystery, and steeped in sacred atmosphere
Continue to Gush Halav for an eye-opening visit with the Maronite Community, led by Shadi Khaloul, Director of the Christian Maronite Aramaic center
Visit the Druze community of Daliat el-Carmel with local activist and ex-IDF Officer Ihab Zeidan, followed by a traditional Druze meal in Israel’s only kosher Druze restaurant
Monday, November 23rd
“What’s Going on in the Knesset?” – Gil Hoffman, Senior Knesset Reporter for The Jerusalem Post
“Iran: How did this happen? What’s Next?” –IDF Major (res.) Elliot Chodoff, military analyst
Check out for those leaving today (rooms to be vacated by 2.00pm) and light lunch at the Inbal Hotel
“Ethics in the Field: An Inside Look at the IDF” – IDF Colonel (res.) Ben-Tzion “Bentzi” Gruber
“How to Effectively Advocate for Israel: Practical Training” – Neil Lazarus, Director of AwesomeSeminars.com
Closing event in Piccolino, a unique location in downtown Jerusalem
Transfer to Ben Gurion airport for those flying tonight
Original article can be viewed at Mission Itinerary: November 16th – 23rd, 2015 on HonestReporting.