Itinerary* | July Session 2019

*Subject to change: Due to the dynamic character of the Middle East, our intention to focus on the current issues in the region, and the availability of speakers and organizations, the following list of topics, visits, and speakers might be updated.*

Our Coexistence in the Middle East (CME) summer program consists of the following three complementary summer courses. All field trips and program activities are to be divided among all three programs, as indicated by the colors below:

Activity for all Coexistence in the Middle East (CME) courses

Narratives and Realities: Inside the Israeli Palestinian Conflict | July 2-23,2019 3 credits - • 45 academic hours | Syllabus | Website | Instructor: Dr. Gershon Baskin

Dr. Baskin was the initiator and negotiator of the secret back channel with Hamas for the release of Gilad Schalit. He served as an adviser on the peace process to late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and on a Jerusalem experts committee under former Prime Minister Ehud Barak.

Israel and the Post-Arab Spring: An Interactive View | July 2-23,2019 3 credits • - 45 academic hours | Syllabus | Website | Instructor: Dr. Nir Boms

Dr. Boms is a research fellow at the Moshe Dayan Center at Tel Aviv University and at the International Center for Counter Terrorism in Herzliya. His articles have appeared in the Washington Times, Iran Times International, and the Jerusalem Post among other international publications.

Religion in the Holy Land: Faith's Role in Peace and Conflict August 1-14,2019 3 credits • - 45 academic hours | Syllabus | Website | Instructor: Dr. Daniel Roth

Rabbi Dr. Daniel Roth is the Director of the Pardes Center for Judaism and Conflict Resolution in Jerusalem and teaches religion and peacebuilding at Bar-Ilan U. and Tel Aviv U. He’s the founder of several interfaith initiatives and a regular lecturer of National Geographic and MEJDI (multi-narrative) Tours. Roth is a senior research fellow at George Mason University’s Center for World Religions, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution

Monday, July 1, 2019 - Arrival 08:30 Mandatory Registration opens - Welcome to Jerusalem! 15:00 Mandatory Registration ends 15:30 Campus Tour 16:30 Orientation Session 18:00 Shopping Trip

Tuesday, July 2, 2019 - New Opportunities and Challenges in a Changing Middle East (RIS 200) 08:00 Opening Session and Introduction: - Javier Gelbwaser, Program Director - Gil Novick, International Institute of Leadership 09:00 “Introduction to the Middle East, Spring and other Seasons,” Dr. Nir Boms 12:00 Lunch Break 13:30 Introduction Lecture - The Complex Israeli Palestinian Relationship - trying to understand this conflict, Dr. Gershon Baskin 15:00 Panel - “Two Narratives, Two Peoples, One Land:” -“The Israeli Narrative,” Aryeh Green -“The Palestinian Narrative,” Elias Zananiri, Deputy Head, PLO Committee for Interaction with Israeli society 17:00 Practical Jerusalem Tour and Pub hangout - Optional*

Thursday, July 4, 2019 - Northern Threats: Syria, Hezbollah and the Islamic State (ISIS) 07:30 Departure from the Student Village South Gate 10:00 Visit to Nahariya Hospital: “Treatment of Syrians Wounded in the Civil War and Coexistence in the Galilee” - Dr. Tsadok Lior, TMJ Surgeon at Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya - Tour of the hospital facilities, including the bomb•proof 450• bed underground medical Facility with Sharon Mann, Galilee Medical Center International Affairs Dept. Liaison. 13:00 Meeting with Jonathan Elkhoury, a Lebanese Christian refugee living in Israel and the son of a former South Lebanon Army (SLA) officer. 14:00 Lunch at the hospital 15:10 Lookout to Lebanese border at Metula 20:00 Summary and Discussion with Dr. Nir Boms at Alonei Habashan 20:30 Skype call from Syria with Ahed al Hendi, a Syrian descendant. Overnight stay at Alonei Habashan

16:00 An in-depth look at Jerusalem - the core of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict - The Geopolitics of Contemporary Jerusalem, Attorney and Jerusalem Expert Danny Seideman 17:30 End of Session

Friday, July 5, 2019 - Syrian Civil War, the Golan Heights & the Druze Minority in Israel 08:00 Departure 08:30 Visit to Har Bental Viewpoint of Al Quneitra in Syria. Briefing of the Syrian war and Israeli humanitarian efforts. Meeting with UNDOF “Blue Helmets” senior officer. 10:00 Visit the Druze village of Bukata at the Golan Heights and meeting with Head of Council, Abbas Awad and Roaa Khater TBC, a Druze community leader. Explanation about the Druze people in the Golan, their traditions; their political status in Israel and their contact with Syria today. 13:30 Return to Jerusalem 19:00 Israeli Kabbalat Shabbat

Sunday, July 7, 2019 - Iran Post-Nuclear Agreement and the Changing Geopolitical Arena (Mandel Auditorium) 09:30 “Iran Post-Nuclear Agreement and the Changing Geopolitical Arena,” Dr. Nir Boms 10:00 Skype call with Shayan Arya, expert on Iran and a human rights and political activist. He has been elected to the central committee of the Constitutionalist Party of Iran (Liberal Democrat) where he is currently serving his third term. 12:30 Lunch Break 13:30 “From non-recognition to Peace Process Failures,” Dr. Gershon Baskin 14:45 “Agreements and Implementation,” what was the Oslo process about, what was in the agreements, what was supposed to happen? Dr. Gershon Baskin

Monday, July 8, 2019 (Optional**) 14:00 Neve Shalom Coexistence Village - Organized by the Office of Student Life - Price 1 point. Mandatory registration in RIS 401-404 - Limited spaces available

Tuesday, July 9, 2019 - Learning from the Past and Educating for the Future 07:45 Departure 08:15-11:15 Visit to Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Museum. 12:00 Return to Mt. Scopus, Lunch Break 13:30 What could an Israeli Palestinian agreement look like and what alternatives exist? Dr. Gershon Baskin (Mandel 530) 14:45 “Incitement and Textbooks,” Arnon Groiss (Gershon), Assistant to Arabic Radio Director at Israel Broadcasting Authority 15:45 “Peace and Education in Palestine,” Prof. Mohammed Dajani-Daoudi

Thursday, July 11, 2019 - The International Community and the Middle East (Mandel 530) 08:30 Dissidents and New Media - Challenges and Opportunities from Egypt and Beyond, Dr. Nir Boms 10:00 Meeting with a representative of the Russian Embassy, Vasilii Gubarev, First Secretary of the Russian Embassy in Israel. 11:45 Lunch break 12:45 Departure 13:30 Meeting with representatives of the US Embassy in Jerusalem at the US Cultural Center in Jerusalem: Robert Palmer, Political Advisor; Lisa Wishman, Director of The American Center in Jerusalem 14:30 Visit to the UN Headquarters in Jerusalem. 15:00 “Regional Change and International Politics: A View From the UN,” Jonathan Eshpar, Senior Political Affairs Officer, UNSCO (Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process).

Sunday, July 14, 2019 - Status Quo and Dimensions: Israel and the West Bank 07:15 Meeting at South Gate 07:30 Tour of the Security Fence/Wall led by Col. (Ret.) Danny Tirza, IDF’s chief architect of the security fence and former territorial & border adviser to late Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. 11:30 Meeting with a Palestinian and an Israeli member of "Roots," a group based in the West Bank area of Gush Etzion to promote dialogue and trust between Israelis, settlers and Palestinians as a path to peace. - Noor Awwad, Palestinian peace activist and proponent of nonviolence - Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger Shaul Judelman, Israeli settler and peace activist 14:00 Lunch Break 15:00 Return to Mt. Scopus (Mandel Auditorium) - lecture by Israeli security person – someone from Commanders for Israel’s security (TBC) Discussion on security aspects of the Israeli- Palestinian conflict and peace process. 16:30 The Gilead Schalit Story, Dr. Gershon Baskin 17:30 End of Activities

Tuesday, July 16, 2019 - An Israeli View of a Changing Region 08:30 Departure from the Student Village 09:00 Visit to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). Presentations: Ifat Reshef, Head of bureau of Middle East Affairs, MFA. Uri Resnik, Division for Asia and the Pacific, MFA. 12:00 Visit to the Supreme Court of Justice 13:30 Lunch break at Mt. Scopus 14:30 Political Parties and Elections in Israel, Dr. Gershon Baskin (Mandel 530) 15:45 Gaza Today and Tomorrow, Dr Gershon Baskin 17:00 Skype conversation with resident of Gaza: Majd Ismail Mashharawi, local entrepreneur 17:40 End of activities 19:00 (Optional**) Ultra-Ortodox Tour - Organized by the Office of Student Life - Price 1 point. Mandatory registration in RIS 401-404 - Limited spaces available

Thursday, July 18, 2019 - Hamas, Gaza, and the Surrounding Israeli Towns 07:30 Departure from Student Village 10:00 Visit to Erez Crossing - border crossing for people between Israel and Gaza. Explanation about security situation and procedures. Meeting with the head of the crossing station, Mr. Shlomo Tzaban and with a Palestinian bussinessman. 12:00 Visit to Kibbutz Nahal Oz, just 800 meters from Gaza city. Meeting with local resident, Mrs. Yael Lehiani. 13:15 Lunch time in Sderot 14:30 Meeting with Eric Yelin, from “The Other Voice” a local NGO that promotes a civil solution to the conflict. 17:00 Departure to the Bedouin Tent.(Optional) 18:30 Arrival to the Bedouin Tent. Explanation about Bedouin culture. Dinner (included) and social activity. Overnight in Bedouin tent in sleeping bags.

Friday, July 19, 2019 - Jordan, Masada, and the Dead Sea (Optional) 05:10 Departure to Masada historical site. 06:00 Ascent to the fortress constructed by Herod on Masada; Observation of the sunrise over the Judean Desert, the Dead Sea, and Jordan. Tour of the fortress and archaeological sites with Ilanit Sakura, tour guide. 08:30 Return to the Bedouin tent, Breakfast and Camel ride in the Judean Desert. 11:30 Descent to the lowest point on earth and a swim in the Dead Sea. 14:30 Return to Jerusalem

Sunday, July 21, 2019 - Dissidents and New Media - Challenges and Opportunities (RIS 300 or Mandel 521) 13:00 Role Play - Planning and Peace activity and negotiations, Dr. Gershon Baskin. 14:30 Simulation of Negotiations, Dr. Gershon Baskin. 16:00 Break 16:30 “A Failed Spring or a New Horizon? Assessing the ‘Arab Fall’ and the Arab Peace Initiative,” Dr. Nir Boms 17:30 “Simulation and Conclusions: Israel & Post-Arab Spring Course,” Dr. Nir Boms 19:30 End of activities

Monday, July 22, 2019 (Optional**) 14:00 Tel Aviv Pride Tour - Organized by the Office of Student Life -Price 1 point. Mandatory registration in RIS 401-404 Limited spaces available

Tuesday, July 23, 2019 - Between Axis of Peace and Axis of War (Mandel 530) 09:00 Women wage peace (TBC) - Dr. Gershon Baskin 10:00 Negotiations, Agreements, Implementation, A look towards the future, Dr. Gershon Baskin 11:00 Feedback and Evaluations, Javier Gelbwaser 12:00 Lunch Break 13:00 Meeting with Mazen Faraj and Rami Elhanan, Palestinian and Israeli members of the Parents’ Circle - Family Forum (PCFF), a grassroots organization of bereaved Palestinians and Israelis. 15:45 Final Remarks, Closing Ceremony and Certificates for July Session 17:00 End of program

August Session - Religion in the Holy Land Course

Wednesday, July 31 | Arrival

08:30 Mandatory Registration opens - Welcome to Jerusalem! 15:00 Mandatory Registration ends 15:30 Campus Tour 16:30 Orientation Session 18:00 End

Thursday, August 1

08:15 Meet in front of Rothberg International School 08:30 Opening Session and Introduction: Javier Gelbwaser, Program Director, Mandel Building room 530 09:30 “Introduction to Religion and Peacebuilding,” Dr. Mostafa Elostaz and Dr. Daniel Roth 11:00 “Religious Peacebuilders in the Context of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict,” Dr. Daniel Roth 12:30 Lunch Break 13:30 “Peace & Violence and Christianity in the Holy Land,” Rev. Russell McDougall, C.S.C., Rector of the Tantur Ecumenical Institute in Jerusalem.

Friday, August 2 | Optional**

19:00 Kabbalat Shabbat Service and Activity

Sunday, August 4

08:45 Meeting at Mandel Building room 521 09:00 “Religious Narratives and Politics Today: The Syrian War - Shia and Sunni Relations in the Middle East,” Dr. Mostafa Elostaz 10:30 “Radicals vs Moderates in Islam and the Wasatiyyah Initiative,” Prof. Mohammed Dajani Daoudi, Palestinian professor and peace activist, led delegation of Palestinian students from Al-Quds University to Auschwitz. 13:00 Departure from Rothberg Building 13:30 Visit to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). Presentations: -“Religion as a Peacebuilding Resource in Negotiations,” Akiva Tor, Head Bureau for World Jewish Affairs and World Religions at MFA (15:00) 16:15 Departure to Hebrew U

Monday, August 5

Tour of Holy Places for Islam, Judaism and Christianity in Jerusalem, led by Lana Zilberman Soloway and Noor Awad. Dual Narrative Tour. In this multi-narrative experience, we’ll see the Old City of Jerusalem presented by one Jewish Israeli and one Palestinian guide in tandem.

08:00 Departure from Student Village South Gate to Dung Gate 08:30 Temple Mount / Haram al-Sherif, home of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, the holiest place in Judaism and third in importance in Islam - Golden Gate Cemetery - Via Dolorosa, Church of the Holy Sepulchre: site of Jesus' crucifixion, burial and resurrection; - Mount Zion: David’s Tomb and the Cenacle of Jesus - Hurva Synagogue in the Jewish Quarter - Lunch Break 14:00 Visit to Mosaica Center for the Religious Peace Initiative TBC 14:30 Gaza, Hamas and Interfaith Dialogue, Sheikh Imad Abed Al-Hamid Al-Falouji, Chairman of the Adam Center for Dialogue of Civilizations in Gaza, was one of the five founders of Hamas and movement spokesperson. Today, Sheikh Imad is an independent leader in Gaza, and is widely accepted by the various Palestinian branches and sections in Gaza and the West Bank. He works to promote religious peace values in cooperation with Mosaica. 16:15 Departure to Student Village from Dung Gate

Tuesday, August 6

08:45 Meeting at Mandel Building room 530 09:00 “Peace and Violence in Judaism” Dr. Daniel Roth 10:30 "The Vatican and the State of Israel - from Hostility to Mutual Respect,” Rabbi David Rosen, KSG CBE, Board of Directors, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID), received a papal Knighthood in 2005 for his contribution to Jewish-Catholic reconciliation 12:00 Lunch break 13:00 “Islam and Palestinian Nationalism - a Misconception”? Dr. Mostafa Elostaz 14:30 “Christian Zionism,” David Parsons, Vice President – Senior International Spokesman with the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem (ICEJ)

Wednesday, August 7 (North-Day 1)

Two-day field trip (day 1 of 2) led by Rodef Shalom Eliyahu McLean, an Israeli Rabbi engaged in interfaith work between Jewish, Christian and Muslim Israelis and Palestinians throughout Israel and the West Bank and Gaza; Director and Founder of The Jerusalem Peacemakers, which brings together Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Druze religious leaders who seek to reclaim religion as a source for peace.

09:00 Departure to Tel Aviv-Jaffa 10:15 Tour to Old Jaffa 11:25 Peres Center visit 12:00 Visit to Peres Center for Peace (PCP), Meetings and presentations by: - Lara Portnoy, External Relations & Outreach Coordinator, Development and External Relations, PCP 14:00 Lunch Break in Jaffa 15:00 Departure to the north 17:00 Visit to the Central old mosque of Shfar’am, meeting with Sheikh Yusuf Sawa’ed 18:00 Visit to “House of Hope” in Shefaram, International Peace Center of Conflict Resolution that promotes the study of Sulha, the traditional Arab mediation and peacemaking ritual, Mr. Elias Jabour, Founder and Chairman 19:00 Overnight at Karei Deshe Guest House, Dinner included.

Thursday, August 8 (North- Day 2)

Two-day field trip (day 2 of 2) led by Rabbi Eliyahu McLean: 07:15 Breakfast (included) 07:45 Departure 08:00 Tabgha, Church of the Multiplication: believed to be the spot where Jesus fed the hungry with loaves of bread and fish, Meeting with Benedictine Father Basilius Schiel 10:15 Departure to Safed 11:00 Visit to Safed: Center of Kabbalah (Jewish Mysticism) and one of the four holy cities in Judaism - Tour of Safed and visit to Synagogues - Meeting with Rabbi Eyal Reiss, Director of the Kabbalah Center 13:30 Lunch Break 15:00 Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus is believed to have delivered the Sermon of the Mount. 15:45 Departure to Nazareth 17:30 Visit to the Church of the Annunciation, at the site where the angel Gabriel is believed to have told Mary she would become the mother of Jesus. Tour by and meeting with Greek Melkite Abuna (Father) Masoud Abu Hatoum 18:50 Departure To Jerusalem 21:15 Estimated Arrival to Student Village

Sunday, August 11

Tisha B’Av / Jewish day of fast (Optional**) Yad Vashem Elijah Interfaith Institute invites to join students at Yad Vashem for a talk, which focuses on the Righteous Among the Nations. Meeting point:10:00 at Har Herzl light rail station (this is NOT a tour of the museum or the memorial halls)

Monday, August 12

07:45 Departure to Student Village from Dung Gate 08:30 Western Wall/Western Wall Tunnels, the closest point where a Jew can pray near the Holy of Holies 11:00 Visit Mosaica Center for the Religious Peace Initiative 11:30 “Dialogue and Coalition-building across Religions and Cultures”, Rabbi Michael Melchior, former Chief Rabbi of Norway, former Deputy Foreign Minister of Israel and Founder of the Middle East Religious Peace Initiative 12:45 Lunch Break 13:45 “Narratives of Holy Sites: The Temple Mount, Haram el Sharif and the Holy Land,” Dr. Mostafa Elostaz 15:30 “Understanding Conflicting Religious Narratives: Introducing the Abrahamic Family, Isaac and Ishmael & Jacob and Esau” Dr. Mostafa Elostaz and Dr. Daniel Roth 17:00 Departure to Student Village

Tuesday, August 13

08:45 Meeting at Mandel Building room 530 08:00 “Salam in Islam,” Dr. Mostafa Elostaz 10:30 “Religious Terrorism: ISIS, Radical Islam, Islamophobia,” Dr. Mostafa Elostaz 12:00 Conclusion and Q&A, Dr. Mostafa Elostaz 13:00 Lunch Break in Talpiot 14:00 Joint activity with The Elijah Interfaith Institute (EII) - Introduction to Elijah and our Friendship campaign, Dr. Alon Goshen-Gottstein, Director The Elijah Interfaith Institute - Making friends dynamic with EII Summer program participants - Airing of the recording of an interview with Elijah Board of World Religious Leaders: Shrivatsa Goswami, Hindu Leader from India and Suheyl Umar, Muslim Leader From Pakistan - Discussion about the meaning of friendship, particularly in a hostile political climate 16:30 (Optional**) EII session on the qualities and virtues associated with friendship and with interreligious friendship in particular.

Wednesday, August 14

08:45 Meeting at Mandel Building room 530 09:00 “Rodfei Shalom in Judaism, in text and today: Aaron the Ideal Peacemaker,” Dr. Daniel Roth 10:30 Lisa Miara, Founder of the Springs of Hope Foundation, a Non-profit working in Kurdistan alongside victims of genocide, displacement and crimes against humanity. 12:00 Lunch Break 13:00 “Rodfei Shalom in Judaism cont., the use of humor and prayer,” Dr. Daniel Roth 14:30 Conclusion and Q&A, Dr. Daniel Roth 15:00 Evaluations 16:00 Certificate Ceremony

Thursday, August 15

Departures

*Optional activities are not formally part of the program and are organized by external organizations that have invited our group to their activities or that are open to the public. Some of them have a participation fee and require participants to arrange their own transportation.