UJIA confirms probe into tour settlement bookings

The United Jewish Israel Appeal,(UJIA), has confirmed it is investigating how participants on a Birthright tour and Federation of Zionist Youth (FZY) trip were booked into overnight accommodation in a West Bank settlement.

Jewish News revealed how two participants in a Birthright tour quit last month after being told they were expected to overnight for three nights at a settlement, without prior knowledge.

It has now emerged that other teenagers on a FZY trip also objected after being put up for several nights last month in Almog, a West Bank settlement near the Dead Sea.

A letter circulated last week expressing anger at the arrangements was signed by dozens of youth movement leaders, who said the decision to put groups in settlements
“not only upends our nuanced education about Israel and the conflict, but ultimately forces us to be complicit in a system we fundamentally disagree with.”

In a statement sent to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, a UJIA spokesman said: “We understand that this is a sensitive and divisive issue and are taking it very seriously.

The spokesperson said the organisation was “carrying out a thorough and rapid review of our existing policies and procedures as they relate to this issue, seeking relevant advice and liaising with our partner organisations.”

UJIA, the leading British sponsor of Israel tours, handles all Birthright trips from the UK.

The two participants in the Birthright trip last month left in protest when they learned they were being put up in Almog rather than in Jerusalem, as they had originally thought.

The itinerary was organized by Israel Experience, a subsidiary of the Jewish Agency and a leading provider of educational tours to Israel.

In a statement Birthright said: “As a non-partisan Jewish educational project, Birthright Israel groups may explore any part of the country, as long as it does not pose any safety or security concerns.

“The choice of accommodation is based solely on logistical concerns. These principles have always been part of Birthright Israel’s policy.”

The Federation of Zionist Youth trip was organized by Tlalim, also a major provider of educational tours to Israel.

As reported by Jewish News last week, the young Jewish tour leaders letter, is addressed online to Israel Experience, the Jewish Agency, Tlalim and UJIA.

Signatories include activists and tour leaders from FZY, Noam RSY-Netzer, and LJY-Netzer.