A group of 13 Canadians has just completed a fascinating 2 week tour of Israel, Jerusalem and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Organized under the umbrella of the National Education Committee on Israel/Palestine, the group travelled extensively – from the Lebanese border in the north to the Negev desert in the south. We visited the Knesset and the Holocaust Museum as well as some of the key religious sites. In all, we met 23 Palestinian and Israeli NGO’s, politicians, students and local leaders, in addition to having many casual conversations with individual citizens.

Travelling in our own minibus with driver and guide was safe and efficient (and fun)

Overall the trip was exciting, illuminating and exhausting. Each trip participant will draw his/her own conclusions.

See 10 of my own observations here.

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Canadian Bishop Lionel Gendron examines some of the extensive destruction of Gaza. “With the present blockade in place, the Gazans see no possibility for reconstruction,” he said later. Photo Credit: Carl Hétu 

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Robert Allison on a rooftop in Hebron. A Canadian Jew from Hamilton, he recently  travelled around Israel/Palestine. His fascinating blog, called “The Adventures of an Accidental Jew” is part travel guide, part poetry, and part introspection. He reflects on Israel/Palestine from the perspective of, as he calls it, an “accidental” Jew. Read my interview here.

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Lauren Lowe (r.) is a teacher of English and Media Studies at Port Credit Secondary School. Last July, in the midst of the Israeli bombing campaign on Gaza, she heard about Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish’s campaign to bring severely wounded Gaza children to Canada for treatment, and about how the federal government was blocking this humanitarian gesture. She decided she wanted to do something, so she started a petition called “HEAL 100 KIDS”.  That petition now has received over 40,000 signatures. She also invited Dr. Abuelaish to speak to her students.

I had the opportunity to interview Lauren in the week of October 10th. My interview with her follows.

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