Returning to Israel
Participants finally tour Israel as UIA missions return to the Holy Land for the first time in two years.
UIA’s first Israel mission in two years took place to coincide with Yom Ha’atzmaut this year, with participants experiencing a week-long tour of Israeli culture, history, innovation, and cuisine.
Visiting Tel Nof air force base and the Gaza, Syrian and Lebanese borders were some of the highlights of the trip. Participants toured Ammunition Hill, the Menachem Begin Heritage Centre, and the Peres Centre for Israeli Innovation.
“[The mission] has given us such a well-rounded and new knowledge of how Israel has been able to win wars, protect its borders, absorb its immigrants, and generally make Israel the exciting, innovative, and beautiful country it has become today,” participant Evie Gareb said.
The group heard from Gil Hoffman, chief political correspondent at The Jerusalem Post; Avi Melamed, Middle East geopolitical intelligence analyst; and Gadi Ezra, director of public diplomacy in the Prime Minister’s Office.
One highlight was a visit to an IDF tank base on the Golan Heights, where participants climbed inside an operational Merkava IV tank.
“Viewing agricultural innovation on kibbutzim, getting Israeli political insights from a leading journalist and hearing the heart-wrenching stories from recent Ukrainian war refugees taken in by Israel – all have left an indelible impression,” participant Elliott Kaplan said.
“It has been highly emotional returning to Israel. Sometimes it takes a break for you to truly appreciate what you have missed,” UIA CEO Yair Miller said.
The group also witnessed UIA’s various projects, spending time at an absorption centre for Ethiopian olim in Tzfat, Youth Futures in Kiryat Shmoneh, Net@ in Kfar Saba and the Hadassah Neurim youth village.
“The visits to our projects show first-hand the life-changing work supported by our donors,” UIA Victoria CEO Jeff Feldman said.
UIA is seeking expressions of interest for its October mission.
More info: uiaaustralia.org.au
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