Many thanks for your inquiry about the Sabeel Fall Witness Visit (29 October – 6 November 2009). There is now a detailed flyer and registration form available at www.sabeel.org.

The cost of the trip is $1100 per person double accommodations with a single supplement of $250. This includes all land costs for 8 nights (all hotels and meals, buses, honoraria for speakers, groups, and sites visited). It does NOT include airfare, transfers to/from the airport to Jerusalem, or any additional nights you might wish to book.

The visit will officially begin at noon on 29 October and conclude with breakfast on 6 November. We'll have 3 nights in Jerusalem (2 at beginning and one at the end), 3 nights in Bethlehem, and 2 in Nazareth. In Jerusalem we'll tour the Old City as well as see the effects of the occupation in East Jerusalem and meet with many speakers and organizations working for justice. While in Bethlehem, we'll visit a refugee camp, see the effects of the Wall on the Bethlehem district and visit Hebron and the village of Tawani to experience the impact of settlements on life in both urban and rural settings in the West Bank. We'll also visit cities in the central and northern West Bank enroute to Nazareth.

Our time in the Galilee will have 2 goals: We'll meet with Arab Israeli citizens to understand their very real problems as minority citizens of a Jewish state and we'll visit the traditional holy sites and take time for reflection.

All along the way, we'll meet with and hear the stories of Palestinian Christians and Muslims as well as hear from those in the Israeli Jewish community who are working for justice. We'll also hear from people who can give updates and assessments of the situation in Gaza and its effect on the whole region.

Please let me know if you have other specific questions or comments. My husband Bob and I have led the past 5 Witness Visits and look forward to the upcoming one. We're currently in the US and can be reached at 207 348 9976 if you’d like to talk about the trip.

Warm regards and thanks for your interest in Sabeel's Witness Visit, Maurine Tobin