2023 ICMEP Solidarity Tour in Bethlehem, photo by Usama Nicola

One of the consistent rallying cries of our Palestinian partners is “come and see.” Likely, this is because they know that once a person visits Palestine, they will never be the same. Once you see the reality on the ground, you can’t unsee it. Once you know the truth, you will never look at the conflict the same way again.

This was true for me when I visited the West Bank in June of 2023 with the Indiana Center for Middle East Peace. Two weeks in the West Bank rocked my world and changed the way I thought about Israel and Palestine. No more could I entertain the notion of a “complicated conflict” between two peoples. The reality is, Palestinians live under an oppressive apartheid regime that inflicts humiliation, trauma, and unimaginable suffering daily. That’s not complicated. It’s simply wrong. There’s nothing like a visit to the West Bank to bring that truth home.

If there is one thing our Palestinian partners need more than ever right now, it’s the presence of international visitors. They are begging for us to come. So, for those who are contemplating a visit to the West Bank, let me just say, now is the time. The Indiana Center for Middle East Peace is currently recruiting travelers for their upcoming solidarity tour, which will be from May 4-16, 2025. Highlights of the tour will be meetings with some of the most prominent peace and justice activists and leaders in both Israel and Palestine, including Issa Amro, Jeff Halper, Daoud Nasser, Muther Isaac, Iyad Burnat, Gideon Levy, Nathan Thrall, and many, many others. 

Travelers will also get an opportunity to visit some of the holiest and most important sites of Christianity, Judaism and Islam, including the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the Al Aqsa Mosque and the Western Wall in Jerusalem, Qumran, and the Sea of Galilee, among others.

For a detailed trip itinerary, click here. For more information about safety information or to sign up for the delegation, please contact Dr. Michael Spath at lmichaelspath@gmail.com. I can’t recommend it highly enough. You will fall in love with the place, the people, the food, and the culture, and it will change your life for the better, forever. 

This excerpt is from the UCCPIN December 2024 E-Newsletter. To view the full newsletter, click here: 
UCCPIN December 2024 E-Newsletter.