Comments on: Spring break more than relaxation; Some students volunteer and others train http://www.cm-life.com/2010/03/03/spring-break-is-more-than-relaxation-some-students-volunteer-and-others-train/ Your 24-hour news source for Central Michigan University Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:31:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Head Shaker http://www.cm-life.com/2010/03/03/spring-break-is-more-than-relaxation-some-students-volunteer-and-others-train/comment-page-1/#comment-13063 Head Shaker Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:27:00 +0000 http://www.cm-life.com/?p=53190#comment-13063 As someone who lived in the West Bank in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, I have to shake my head at some of the assumptions being made by Gaerts (and presumably the His House staff organizing the trip). 1.Four-star hotels don't equal "safety," just $$ for the Israeli tourist industry. By and large, internationals traveling throughout Israel and the Palestinian Territories (where Bethlehem and Jericho are located, by the way, NOT Israel) are safe from the Arab-Israeli violence that still affects the area. In fact, Israelis are, by and large, safe, too. Unless one is Palestinian or a supporter of Palestinian rights, one tends to be safe in the area period. 2. You won't actually see people "walking around with guns" except in Israel proper, i.e. Jerusalem and the Sea of Galilee. In fact, Palestinians can't carry guns legally, and most of their weapons were confiscated in 1948. 3. I hope the men on the trip plan to keep their shoulders covered, too. You won't see any Israelis or Arabs, men or women, walking around with their shirts off in Jerusalem, and you're not likely to see many legs either. But in urban areas, like Tel Aviv or Haifa, you'd find people walking around in speedos. It's just a matter of culture and residents, none of which are homogeneous in this region nor limited to women only. 4. Lastly, I have to say it's sad that people are spending $3,000 for a one-week trip to the area. Besides flight costs, 7 days in Israel and the Territories should have costs $200 max. Most sites are free, food is inexpensive, and again, those 4-star hotels are a waste of "security" money. As someone who lived in the West Bank in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, I have to shake my head at some of the assumptions being made by Gaerts (and presumably the His House staff organizing the trip).

1.Four-star hotels don’t equal “safety,” just $$ for the Israeli tourist industry.

By and large, internationals traveling throughout Israel and the Palestinian Territories (where Bethlehem and Jericho are located, by the way, NOT Israel) are safe from the Arab-Israeli violence that still affects the area.

In fact, Israelis are, by and large, safe, too. Unless one is Palestinian or a supporter of Palestinian rights, one tends to be safe in the area period.

2. You won’t actually see people “walking around with guns” except in Israel proper, i.e. Jerusalem and the Sea of Galilee. In fact, Palestinians can’t carry guns legally, and most of their weapons were confiscated in 1948.

3. I hope the men on the trip plan to keep their shoulders covered, too. You won’t see any Israelis or Arabs, men or women, walking around with their shirts off in Jerusalem, and you’re not likely to see many legs either. But in urban areas, like Tel Aviv or Haifa, you’d find people walking around in speedos. It’s just a matter of culture and residents, none of which are homogeneous in this region nor limited to women only.

4. Lastly, I have to say it’s sad that people are spending $3,000 for a one-week trip to the area. Besides flight costs, 7 days in Israel and the Territories should have costs $200 max. Most sites are free, food is inexpensive, and again, those 4-star hotels are a waste of “security” money.

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