Around 900 16-year-olds are set to go on Israel Tour this summer, following the change in travel advice from the Foreign Office.
After almost a year of Israel being on the “red list”, with the FCDO advising against all but essential travel, most of the country is now listed as green.
However, the Foreign Office is still advising against all travel to Gaza, areas within 500m of the Gaza border, the northern West Bank and Golan Heights. They are also urging visitors not to embark on any non-essential travel to parts of the central and southern West Bank.
UJIA, which together with the Jewish Agency for Israel oversees the training and logistics for Israel Tour, said they were “absolutely delighted” by the change in Foreign Office advice, which came just one day before the deadline to make a final decision.
Its chief executive, Mandie Winston, told the JC the FCDO travel advice had been the only remaining barrier to tours going ahead this summer after the Home Front Command – which issues safety guidelines in Israel – loosened their guidelines on Tuesday, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
She said: “UJIA Israel Experience, the partnership between UJIA and the Jewish Agency for Israel responsible for facilitating Israel Tour, continues to work very hard to ensure that hundreds of young people in our community will now have an educational and safe summer in Israel.”
Winston confirmed that youth groups FZY, Noam, Bnei Akiva, Ezra and Sinai would all be going to Israel, as well as Habonim, which is also running a Europe option.
The programme will kick off in under two weeks, with dozens of Israel tour leaders travelling to Israel from the UK for training.
The news that Israel Tour was going ahead has been widely welcomed by the teenagers signed up to go. Mia, 15, from Borehamwood, said: "I couldn't believe it when I came out of my GCSE exam and my friends told me the news. I squealed and jumped up since this is all I've been looking forward to. I always had my heart set on Israel and now it's really happening. I can't wait."
However, Winston said RSY Netzer, LJY Netzer, JLGB and BBYO had taken the decision to no longer be sending groups to Israel and that these organisations would be running tours to alternative destinations.
Josh Hartuv, executive director of BBYO UK, said they made their final decision to run a Europe tour instead of taking a group to Israel back in April “so that we could ensure that if Europe was the plan, it would be planned properly, within a budget, and with meeting all of our educational and programmatic goals that define BBYO”.
He added: “Our decision to move from Trek Israel to Trek Europe was one done with a heavy heart, but it was necessary. We are incredibly excited for our teens heading out to Europe and for our dedicated staff that are leading them, and, as we always say: L'Shanah Haba'ah B'Yerushalayim – Next year in Jerusalem.”
To get more from community, click here to sign up for our free community newsletter.