Please see our trip details section for more information. If you would like to participate in a delegation, please fill out and return your completed Trip Registration   

•Sept 27th - Oct 6th, 2002: Compassionate Listening for German-Jewish Reconciliation in Germany

Trip Registration   

Sample Itinerary

Trip Details (Israel and Palestinian Territories)

Date: Exact trip dates are confirmed approximately 5 months before each delegation.

Who Can Participate: Our participants have come from every walk of life, and have ranged in age from 15 to 82 years of age. Couples and families are welcome. Our trips are not physically strenuous, but we do keep a full itinerary. We welcome and honor participation of individuals from all nations and backgrounds. Each trip, we generally invite Israelis and Palestinians to join us for particular events and activities.

Accommodations: We typically spend about 8 nights at a four-star hotel in East Jerusalem - located close to or within the walls of Jerusalem's magnificent Old City. We also generally spend 1 night at a classic guest house in Gaza City; 1 or 2 nights with Palestinian families in the West Bank; 1 or 2 nights with Israeli-Jewish families in the West Bank or Jerusalem area; we also frequently spend time in the Galilee area.

Orientation/training: We begin in Jerusalem with a 1-day training in Compassionate Listening. Our group continues to meet throughout each trip to reflect on our experience and deepen in our understanding and practice of this powerful reconciliation tool.

Project Support: This project is guided and supported by several Israeli and Palestinian leaders actively involved in Israeli-Palestinian dialogue and reconciliation projects. They assist with project development and with our daily itinerary. Some have an active role in our Compassionate Listening training and delegation.

Post-trip: If desired, participants are supported and linked through our Mid East Citizen Diplomacy Network - an email network connecting us to Israeli and Palestinian peace-building organizations, articles, opportunities and campaigns, and to our staff, advisory board and past participants, for support, networking and guidance.

Fundraising: We have suggestions for fundraising that many of our participants have successfully used in the past to raise all or part of their trip expenses. We hope that participants will first seek help with funding from within their own communities. If you are a member of a synagogue, mosque, church or other organization, we suggest that you seek sponsorship from this community first. This will allow a wider number of people to feel invested in the project and supportive of your experience. You might consider working together on a fundraising event. We also encourage you to request support from your network of family and friends. Participants also use our film, Children of Abraham, for their fundraising efforts - with both private and public screenings.

Financial Assistance: We have a scholarship fund which prioritizes low-income Jewish and Palestinian applicants from North America who have demonstrated leadership in their communities. Our ability to provide full or partial scholarships depends on support we receive from foundations and individuals, which fluctuates.

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Reservations

How to reserve your space: To join a trip we need a $300 deposit per person and a completed trip registration. When we receive these, we will reserve your space.

Payment: The June 2002 Israel/West Bank trip cost is $2,100, based on a minimum of 15 participants. Airfare is separate. We work with an excellent travel agent and you are welcome to book your travel through us. Airfare from North America ranges from $670 - $820, depending on your location and the season. We accept payment by check and credit card.

The trip price is based on double occupancy. If we are unable to provide a roommate, the single room supplement of $300 will apply.

Participants signing up within 60 days of departure must pay the full trip cost.

What Your Trip Cost Includes: Our trip price includes: all accommodations based on double occupancy, with private bath and shower; breakfast and dinner daily; airport transfers and ground transportation; trip leaders; guides; honoraria for Israeli and Palestinian speakers and hosts; Compassionate Listening training; and tips. Single rooms are available for an additional $300.

Airline Tickets: For tickets purchased through our agent, participants may extend their stay on either end at no extra cost.

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Cancellations and Refunds

If you must cancel your trip, your deposit and payments will be refunded less a cancellation fee. Cancellations must be received in writing or by email. The following cancellation fees apply:

• 90 days or more: $300 will be retained;
• 30 - 90 days: 45% of the trip cost will be retained; *
• less than 30 days and "no-shows": no refund. *

No partial refunds will be granted for unused hotel rooms, meals, or other scheduled activities for any reason. Our trips are quoted as a package and credits are not given for unused portions.

If We Cancel a Trip: We reserve the right to cancel a trip due to dangerous political situations. In such a case, we will refund your payments less $300. If we have already purchased tickets and a dangerous political situation arises, airfare purchased through Mid East Citizen Diplomacy will be refunded according to the policy of the air carrier.

Travelers Insurance: We strongly urge all trip participants to purchase travel insurance, which generally includes: trip cancellation, baggage, medical and/or emergency evacuation insurance. No one ever intends to cancel their trip; however, unforeseen circumstances can change travel plans. Baggage may be lost or damaged, and some medical insurance (including Medicare) will not provide coverage outside the U.S. For a modest price, protection can be provided for these and other concerns. Please check with a travel agent of your choice.

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Syria & Lebanon
October 2002
Cost: $1,900 + airfare

MECD's first trip to Syria and Lebanon took place in March 2001. An expansion of the Compassionate Listening Project, the trip was a great success! We were received and supported at the highest levels and invited to deepen our work in both countries. Join us as we continue to open doors, increase understanding and build the Arab - American dialogue.

We will listen to Syrians and Lebanese from a variety of backgrounds, including professionals, representatives of grassroots organizations, leaders/officials, women's groups, spiritual leaders, students, families and Palestinian refugees. We will also meet with U.S. officials.

The region is extremely rich historically and geographically, and we will take in some remarkable sights with several guided day trips.

The trip price is $1,900 plus airfare. Participation is limited to 18 people. (If you can listen, you are qualified to participate.) To register, please send us your registration and $300 trip deposit.