Israel tours for UK teens set to commence after Foreign Office lifts travel warning
900 Jewish sixteen-year olds from the UK are due to take part in youth group programmes this summer via UJIA's Israel Experience
Parents of the 900 Jewish teens scheduled to fly to Israel for summer tours are expressing sighs of relief after the government lifted its blanket warning against visiting the country.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) updated its guidance on Wednesday, ending its previous advice against all travel to Israel following the continued cessation of hostilities between Israel and Iran.
Under the revised advice, most of the country is now open to travel. However, the FCDO continues to advise against all travel to Gaza, parts of northern Israel including the Golan Heights, and against all but essential travel to parts of the West Bank.
UJIA Israel Experience is organised by the Jewish Agency for Israel and supported by UJIA together with a cross-communal network of youth movements and organisations including BBYO, Bnei Akiva, Ezra, FZY, Habonim Dror, JLGB, LJY-Netzer, Noam, RSY-Netzer, Sinai Youth and Tribe.
Mandie Winston, chief executive, UJIA said: “We are absolutely delighted that that the FCDO travel advice for Israel has turned to green, means that Israel Tour 2026 can go ahead this summer, as it has for over five decades. The FCDO travel advice was the only remaining barrier to Israel Tour this year and we were hopeful that it would change following further easing of restrictions in Israel by the Home Front Command on Tuesday.
“UJIA Israel Experience, the partnership between UJIA and the Jewish Agency for Israel responsible for facilitating Israel Tour, continues to work very hard to ensure that hundreds of young people in our community will now have an educational and safe summer in Israel. And in less than two weeks, we are excited to have the opportunity, in Israel, to continue training dozens of British and Israeli Tour Madrichim to be able to deliver an excellent programme this summer.”
Laura from Mill Hill, whose daughter will be going on tour with FZY, told Jewish News: “Our kids have faced so much disappointment since Covid that they almost expect things to be cancelled now. This news brings back some much-needed normality. It’s great knowing they get to follow in the footsteps of all the Jewish 16-year-olds who went before them.”
Katherine from Borehamwood said: “I am delighted that my daughter will be able to go on Bnei Akiva tour this summer after all the uncertainty that has led up to this moment. We are so grateful to everyone who has worked hard to make this happen and I know she will have the valuable and memorable experience of creating a true love for Israel that she has been looking forward to for so long.
“After missing out on the their Year 6 trip due to Covid and their Year 9 Israel trip due to the war, this cohort will be all the more delighted to enjoy their summer in Israel and we feel truly blessed to watch them enjoy every moment! Here’s to a peaceful and successful summer for everyone going.”
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